The 2012 edition of Edmonton’s Festival
of Trees was a weekend to remember. From November 29th to December
2nd the Edmonton Shaw Conference Center had over ten thousand
visitors for the festival. Many families have made this annual event a family
tradition. It is the perfect kick-off to a Christmas season.
Visitors were treated to the sights and
sounds of Christmas. The entire duration of the festival was jam packed with
live entertainment, light displays, gingerbread houses and of course, jaw
dropping tree designs. Some of the most creative minds showcased their work at
the Festival, and it kept patrons admiring their masterpieces all weekend long.
The entertainers loved spreading their
positive energy to the crowd, from the dance teams lighting up the room with
their electrifying moves, to the choirs singing classic Christmas carols, it
truly was an event that brought the community together.
The Christmas seasons hits consumers
with the biggest retail bills, and pushes budgets far beyond personal means.
This is the time of year when individuals struggle to make charitable donations
because they simply don’t have extra dollars floating around. Many people are
looking for the perfect way to get them into the Christmas spirit and spread
the joy to those who need financial support.
The Edmonton Festival of the Trees is
always the perfect event to do just that. Every year the festival is a great
success. There are elaborately decorated trees and displays to ensure all patrons
are in the holiday spirit and truly understand the meaning behind the season.
In 2011, more than 30,000 patrons came out for the event and a whopping 1
million dollars was raised for the University of Alberta hospital. Over the
years, the Festival of Trees has raised over $13 million to support patient
care.
Festivalgoers can spend hard earned
dollars at any of the various displays or stores and know each dollar is going
to a good cause. Even the entry fee of a mere $7 goes directly to the Edmonton
University hospital. Every item purchased, will bring a smile to the gift
recipients face, and to those who need joy the most—the patients. Now, that is
certainly in line with the giving nature of the holiday season.
The Festival of Trees is put on strictly
by sponsorship and volunteers. Every single dollar made from this weekend's
festival goes directly to the University hospital. This year, the festival was
in support of critical care, ensuring that the hospital's dedicated critical
care specialists have access to the latest technology to save lives and ensure
patients have the best quality of life possible.
The University hospital has surely
benefited everyone in one way or another, may it be personally, a family
member, a friend or a neighbor.
It is great to see so many members of
the community giving back to such a great organization. The stores inside the
Festival were filled with people, and spilling out the doorway! Patrons took advantage of
The Sweet Shop and Gift Shop, finished Christmas shopping, and donated for
a great cause in doing so.
2012's was a wonderful
holiday season. The spirit of Christmas was alive in the smiles of visitors to the Festival
of Trees. In a society that is so jaded, it is refreshing to attend an
event where happiness is abundant.
For those who missed the sights and
sounds of the 2012 festival, be sure to mark your calendar for next
December! Make this family friendly
event a tradition with your family, and when you exit Shaw's winter wonderland, know you have made a difference in the lives of many.