Festival of Trees delights visitors

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BROWNSTOWN — The fourth annual Festival of Trees features so many uniquely decorated Christmas trees that it can be hard to pick a favorite.

Just ask Jan Wilde, who visited the display on Friday at the Jackson County History Center at 105 N. Sugar St. in Brownstown along with a group of residents from Lutheran Community Home in Seymour.

When she first entered the livery barn where the trees are displayed, Wilde said there were so many nice trees that she didn’t want to pick a winner.

After taking a lap around the barn, Wilde eventually settled on the Christmas tree decorated by ESL/Zion Lutheran Church as the winner. That tree, which features various origami figurines, was decorated by a group of Japanese women from the Seymour church.

“That just caught my eye, all those little tiny paper ornaments,” she said.

“My second choice is the Hoosier Christian Village Christmas tree,” Wilde said.

She said the exhibit, which features 25 decorated Christmas trees, was just amazing.

Helen Goecker, another Lutheran Community Home resident, also had a hard time picking a winner.

“It’s too much in a short trip to decide,” she said.

Goecker said her decision about a winner would not depend upon who put the tree together, but she needed some time to take it all in.

“It will take a little while,” she said. “I don’t want to be rushed.”

History center volunteer Margo Brewer said the response to this year’s Festival of Trees has gone well.

“We have 21 trees and three displays you can vote on,” she said.

Admission to the Festival of Trees is free, but freewill donations to benefit the history center, which is a nonprofit organization, will be accepted.

Hours for the Festival of Trees in the livery barn:

Today, 1 to 8 p.m. (The choir from Ratcliff Grove Christian Church will sing at 7 p.m.)

Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Christmas in the Barn, 5 to 8:30 p.m. (join in singing Christmas songs and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies)

Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m.

Dec. 18, 1 to 4 p.m. (Bethel Baptist Church choir will perform)

Dec. 19, 5 to 8 p.m. (visit by Santa)

Dec. 20, 5 to 8 p.m. (visit by Santa)

Dec. 21, 5 to 8 p.m. (visit by Santa)

Dec. 22, 5 to 8 p.m. (visit by Santa)

Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m. (visit by Santa)

Dec. 26, 5 to 8 p.m.

Dec. 28, 5 to 8 p.m.

Dec. 30, noon to 6 p.m.

Groups interested in scheduling a day and time to view the trees and displays may call Margo Brewer at 812-525-2295 or Gloria Cross at 812-521-6717. Follow the history center on Facebook.

For those interested in entering a tree in 2023, the theme already has been decided: Gnomes and elves.

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