After two years of COVID-19 complications, the annual Holiday Trees festival in Peterborough returned with a bang.
From Friday, Dec. 2, to Sunday, Dec. 4, more than 200 community members poured into the Peterborough Community Center for the ninth annual Holiday Trees festival. The weekend-long event featured 31 decorated trees made by local families and organizations, such as a “Wizard of Oz”-themed tree made by The Masiello Group and a “Belle of the Christmas Ball”-themed tree made by Sue Yarger.
After four years of participating in the event, Yarger said she aimed to stand out from the crowd this year.
“I wanted to do something unique and off the beaten path, so I used things around the house,” said Yarger.
To kickstart the holiday festivities, children and adults drank hot cocoa around the fire Friday night while singing Christmas carols. Children also participated in a game of I Spy to find 10 items hung on the trees for a small prize. On Saturday and Sunday, families had a chance to meet with Santa Claus indoors and pose for a photo.
Despite the rebuilding year due to the pandemic, Holiday Trees organizer Lauren Martin said this year’s turnout exceeded expectations.
“Overall, it was a huge success,” said Martin. “Everybody was smiling ear-to-ear the whole time.”
Four trees were recognized as winners. Martin won the adult People’s Choice award for her tree “Meow-y Christmas,” and the Betz, Jarest and Airi family won the children’s People’s Choice award for “The Naughty Kid’s Tree.” The Peterborough Women’s Center received a Judges’ Choice Award for their adult tree “Belle of the Ball,” and School Kids in Peterborough (SKIP) received a Judges’ Choice Award for their tree “Country Christmas.”
Next year, the Holiday Trees festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Martin said she looks forward to keeping the holiday tradition going.
“Next year, I hope [the event] continues to build,” said Martin.
The Peterborough Community Center is planning to build an ice skating rink at Adams Playground that will be accessible to community members next week.