Guadalupe Montessori School Festival of Trees continues this weekend and next

Photos of trees and details by Mary Alice Murphy

Guadalupe Montessori School is hosting the Festival of Trees for the fifth year in a row, but in a new venue—the former Curious Kumquat building.

The rooms lend themselves to good traffic flow, with a pop-up store of handcrafted items by local artisans also for sale.

According the GMS director, Martha Egnal, they had planned for 25 live trees and agave "trees," but so many groups wanted to decorate trees, they actually have 29 trees, with 10 being agave stalks.

Baked goods can be purchased in a room all by themselves. In addition, live lavender and rosemary trees, as well as small potted trees that are not decorated can be bought. All proceeds benefit the Guadalupe Montessori School.

Nancy Stephens, a GMS board member, with a son in the school said: "This is a neat event. Each tree is a work of art and a labor of love."

Eight trees were sold at the opening reception Thursday evening, leaving on Friday, 21 to sell.

The festival continues Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10, and a second weekend Dec. 14-17. Store hours are Fridays from noon to 8 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some of the trees can be bought outright, with others having a silent auction on them.

The festival has a history, when people were supporting the building and maintenance of Penny Park before the city took it over, the festival was held a few times. Mattie Eagle, who is a GMS board member was a member of the Penny Park board and understood that the festival could continue under the management of Guadalupe Montessori School, and so it has.

The first year, GMS held it at the schools. The second year, where the Market Café has recently closed, third year at the old Post Office and the fourth year at Western Stationers. All involved seem to like the Curious Kumquat location this year.