SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Garden Club invites the public to attend the 27th Annual Festival of Trees fundraiser Friday, Nov. 22, from 6-8. Once again, the Great Hall at 100 River Street, Springfield, Vermont will be transformed into a “Winter Wonderland” through the first week of January, 2020.
The Friday night kickoff party will again feature holiday music by Gerry Grimo’s East Bay Jazz Ensemble, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer from Vermont brewers, as well as 25 beautifully ornamented trees, outdoor Nature Tree, wreaths & creations of seasonal greens, silent auction & raffle.
The Springfield Garden Club is devoted to community service. Over the past 26 years of producing this extravaganza, the Club has given more than $200,000 back to the community in the greater Springfield area and surrounding towns, through activities such as:
Scholarships to area graduating high school seniors or college students pursuing further education in the field of horticulture, forestry or environmental studies.
Town plantings for beautification.
Junior gardening programs.
Educational programs and speakers.
Garden therapy with Adult Day Care.
Monthly flower arrangements to Meals on Wheels recipients.
Plant it Pink project at the Iron Bridge Garden.
Maintenance of Blue Star Memorial and all town gardens.
Collaboration with other town organizations on civic projects.
Ticket prices at the door are $35 per person, again this year.
“The Festival is the sole means of support for all of the programs the Club provides to the community,” Co-Chair Sandy MacGillivray said.
“The Festival would not be possible without generous support from civic-minded businesses and individuals in the local area,” Springfield Garden Club President Cheryl Pierce said. “We call on businesses which provide varied and interesting items which are combined into gift baskets and put into the raffle drawing. Last year, there were twenty-two gift baskets raffled off during the night of the Festival.”
Other local businesses may give larger gifts which are put into the Silent Auction. These are things like artwork, jewelry, home heating oil, wood pellets, area rugs, gym memberships, golf discounts, ski lift tickets and more, according to Silent Auction and Raffle Co-Chair Carol Eramo. This year we have a beautiful necklace from VonBargen Jewelers and a 65-inch handmade quilt from Darlene Larochelle of Springfield.
“The Club is also fortunate to have corporate sponsors and civic-minded individuals who donate outright cash gifts in support of the Festival,” Co-Chair Jean Swanson said.
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