Dozens of trees have been decorated and staged by businesses, groups and individuals inside the Bold Center's Community Room for the Lac La Biche Festival of Trees weekend. Countless hours and dollars have been spent creating each tree. The efforts show the community spirit ... and human spirit ... involved.
Over the years, the annual tree raffle, the spotlight event of the weekend celebration that features crafts, displays, Christmas family activities, free skating and a community market, has brought deserving local groups and organizations more than a quarter million dollars in funding.
Sparkly decorations, attractive prizes and community support have all gone towards those big donation numbers.
In most of the festival's decade-plus years, trees offering big-ticket items — video game consoles, TVs, NHL tickets, large-amount gift certificates — have been raffle ticket magnets. Organizers know and appreciate that the big prizes draw lots of interest. To match that growing interest, organizers this year have printed 60,000 raffle tickets. The winning raffle ticket winners — and an idea of the total funds raised — will be announced on Sunday afternoon. But this year, long before the dollars are tallied and the winners are announced, one tree shining brightly in the Community Room is already generating $5,000 for charity.
Tree offers $5,000 for charity
The Edcon Power Tongs tree is offering five coupons worth $1,000 each that can be turned into donations — made in the raffle winner's name — and given to deserving charities operating within Lac La Biche County. The tree winner can choose to give one charity $5,000 or split the funds. The Edcon entry — like the dozens of others trees in the raffle — also comes with an assortment of traditional gifts for the winner ... along with the $5,000 for charity.
It's just another example of how event supporters are branching out and finding unique ways to help the community and the people it represents, say festival organizers.
Gas and food cards
Other noticeable additions to Christmas tree decorations, this year, say organizers, include more fuel savings cards and gift vouchers at grocery stores, seemingly responding to increased prices and cost of living increases that are affecting most residents.
Calnash at 50
Other trees with unique themes this year include the Calnash Trucking entry that is a 25-box pyramid highlighting the local company's 50 year anniversary. Inside each box are items that represent either the colour gold or the number 50. Several trees are adorned with local business gift certificates, with several offering the raffle winner services and discounts at area establishments.
All of the trees are on full display inside the Community Room at the Bold Center. Overall, the trees represent tens of thousands of dollars in gifts. Raffle tickets are being sold for one dollar each, or $20 for a booklet of 20.