On Saturday, Nov. 17, the fifth annual Hamilton County Festival of Trees will be held at Bridgewater Country Club, 3535 E. 161st St., Westfield. The Festival of Trees is a dinner and Christmas tree auction to raise funds to help families in need during the holiday season.
Auction items will include Christmas trees, wreaths and more.
Event Coordinator Kim Harden is in charge of finding the designers who will decorate these themed Christmas trees, organizing the event, and helping promote it.
Harden keeps a busy schedule. In addition to organizing the Festival of Trees, she is a wedding coordinator and decorator with iLoveit! Designs LLC and she works in the Noblesville High School cafeteria.
Having been involved in the Festival of Trees in Anderson – and being a first-place designer for two years – Harden started the Hamilton County event five years ago.
“Wreaths and Christmas trees are designed by local artists here in Hamilton County,” Harden told The Reporter. “We put them all up in the ballroom at Bridgewater and we have a live auction to raise funds for Good Samaritan to help with their holiday assistance program.”
Two days after the event, trees will be delivered to winning bidder by Two Men And A Truck moving company.
All proceeds benefit the Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, Inc., for their signature holiday food and assistance program for county residents.
“For Thanksgiving and Christmas people get food boxes,” Harden said. “At Christmas all the kids get three new gifts and clothes – whatever they need. Last year, Good Samaritan helped 26,978 people who live in Hamilton County. I think people don’t realize we have lower income people who live in Hamilton County who work but are really struggling to make ends meet. Those are the people we want to help.”
In addition to the auction night event, this year everyone in Hamilton County will have an opportunity to see these professionally designed trees and place a bid.
“This year we have been asked to put five Christmas trees in the judicial building in Hamilton County,” Harden said. “These trees will be set up Oct. 27 and 28. On Monday, Oct. 29, these trees will be up for bid before the actual Festival of Trees. You will be able to bid on them online from your smartphone. The winning bids on the trees at the judicial building will be announced the night of the Festival of Trees.”
This allows people who may not be able to attend the festival at Bridgewater will be able bid on trees at the Hamilton County Judicial Center during late October through mid-November.
“I have my five top designers going there. I don’t know the names of the trees or what they will be themed yet, but I do know the snowman will be making an appearance with some family members,” Harden explained.
There may also be a special fireman-themed tree on display this year.
In addition to bidding on your favorite tree, you could help by becoming a sponsor.
“We are looking for sponsors this year,” Harden said. “People can contact me at iLoveItDesigns@att.net or they can go to the Good Samaritan website, gsnlive.org, and look for the events tab. People can also use that website to reserve their seats for the night of the event. We have sold out the last two years.”
Learn more online at facebook.com/FestivalofTreesGSN or at gsnlive.org/festival-of-trees.
Photos provided