BROOKINGS Its one grand gala that is letting area residents know Thanksgiving is less than a week away and then comes the Christmas holiday season. Its the annual Festival of Trees, which opened Thursday at the Brookings Arts Council. This years theme is Vintage Christmas.
As to the genesis of the annual festival, BAC Operations Manager Eileen Binkley noted that Marilyn Foerster, emeritus board member, brought a couple of trees to Brookings in the early 90s. Marilyn was involved in a festival of trees in Minnesota and she brought the idea here. However, a tree-festival of some fashion may have preceded the present annual event.
Binkley explained that she and Executive Director Rachel Funk, were thinking of the 1950s and the use of paints of mint-green and turquoise, a very nostalgic feeling of maybe what our grandmothers would have used to decorate their houses with. But we do not require our participants to decorate their trees with that theme.
This year there are 16 trees on display, with each tree purchased for $35 by groups, organizations and individuals. Decorators were responsible for their design and provided lights, a tree skirt, tree topper and anything they wanted under their tree The BAC provided power strips and extension cords.
The public will be able to vote for their favorite tree. First-place winner receives a BAC gift basket and a whole year of bragging rights. There is a little Charlie Brown tree with a Charlie Brown backdrop. All the backdrops were painted by the (BAC) staff, Binkley noted. She added that she and Funk really put our heart and soul into it.
In the middle of the gallery is a long table, festively covered and decorated for the holiday season, and benches. We found that one of the things people enjoy doing during the Festival of Lights is sitting and chatting, maybe having a coffee, just being in the environment, Binkley explained. So we set this table and we welcome people to sit at it. You can bring your coffee. Eventually we will put up a hot chocolate and hot tea bar.
In addition to enjoying the decorated trees, visitors are invited to visit The Holiday Shop, set up in a small alcove off the main gallery floor. It features local art and artisans, Binkley explained. This year we have a lot of fiber work; theres lot of crochet; theres some frosted ornaments. We have a whole tree of hand-made ornaments over there. There are also several greeting card options. There are Christmas cards. There are some paintings and prints. The shop will be open the same hours as the Festival of Trees. Wreaths are available for taking home and decorating.
Adding to the Christmas season atmosphere, there will be piano playing by volunteer musicians at various times. Add to that a violin performance by Immanuel Abraham, an award-winning soloist, author and professor at South Dakota State University. He will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. Its free and the public is invited. And theres more.
The festival is open Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 2 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 2 to 5 p.m.
Santa will drop by
My personal favorite, Dave Huebner, will be visiting as Santa, on Dec. 21 from 2 to 7 p.m., Binkley said. Smiling, she added, Im a longtime friend of Dave. He will be making his little clay animals and listening to Christmas wishes. I think this is a special Santa experience.
Listed below are the tree numbers, the decorators and their themes:
- No.1. Prairie Soul Yoga, Sugar, Spice, and Sun Salutations
- No. 2. Brookings PRIDE, Queer Cheer
- No. 3. Brookings Regional Humane Society, Animals
- No. 4. Brookings Area United Way/Early Learners, Whimisical Wonders: A Vintage Christmas Celebration for Early Development
- No. 5. Brookings Area Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts, est. 1912
- No. 6, Art Factory, Home is Where the HeART is
- No. 7. Brookings Public Library, A Little Golden Holiday
- No. 8. Dwan Tjeerdsma & MaryJo Wallenberg, Pretty in Pink
- No. 9. Brookings Multicultural Center, A World of Holiday Cheer
- No. 10. Blue Dasher Farm, Ecdysis Foundation
- No. 11. Daughters of the American Revolution, Medary Vintage
- No. 12. Brookings Fiber Works Guild, A Cozy Christmas
- No. 13. First Lutheran Preschool, Twas the Night Before Christmas
- No. 14. Little Leprechaun 4-H Club, Head, Heart, Health, and Holidays
- No. 15. Hand Tied Floral, Candy Colored Christmas
- No. 16. Andie Star, Presents on the Tree
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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