DRYDEN — For the first time in three years, Dryden's Festival of Trees is back.
The annual holiday tradition organized by the Dryden Trillium Lions Club, which had been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place beginning on Sunday.
“We are just so happy to have this event back and we are so happy to have the Lions Club supporting Dryden District Senior Services," event chair Wendy Wiedenhoeft said
“Christmas is starting."
The colourful display of trees will be in the atrium at The Centre, which Wiedenhoeft explains is a beautiful backdrop for the two-week event.
The first of the events is on Sunday, with Christmas photos courtesy of Dryden Camera Club from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“Folks can come down, have their picture taken in a very festive backdrop, make a donation to the Festival of Trees, and then the photographer will take the picture and send it to you by email,” said Wiedenhoeft.
Then on Dec. 2, the Festival of Trees will be having an open house from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. to view the trees and make a donation. The open house will be a social event with coffee, tea, and dainties presented by The Trillium Lions Club.
During the evening, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be a Winter Wonderland Dinner.
“Fifteen hostesses from our community set and decorate tables with a Christmas theme and the tables are outstanding,” said Wiedenheoft.
Wiedenheoft said that the Winter Wonderland Dinner is a ticketed event and they have limited spots available. The dinner is being catered by Crooked Arrow. Patrons at the dinner will be entertained by a local dance group Stage Door Studios.
During the last weekend of the event, on Dec. 9, the Centre is hosting a Wine Tasting. Tickets for this event at $40 each.
However, adults are not going to have all the fun during the Festival of Trees. On Dec. 10, Dallas Ledshan, a broker with Century 21 and Northern Choice Reality LTD, is sponsoring a children’s movie at 11 a.m.
“We are really hoping people will come out,” said Wiedenhoeft.
Throughout the two-week Festival of Trees, Wiedenhoeft said that there will be several fundraising opportunities at all the events including a 50/50 draw, a dove tree, and a tree sponsorship. All the information about these events will be posted on their Facebook page.
