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Show Festival of Trees Celebrates 40 Years y ijy A GIFT OF L O V E 1 . ' , - ! : ' i -"U' -v f 111! DKFN'S MIDIC.U tEM r a The Festival of Trees is organized by an 86-member volunteer board, which works throughout the year to orchestrate orches-trate this four-day event. Assisting As-sisting Mrs. Austin are Co-chairwomen: Co-chairwomen: Shauna Kerr, Centerville; Marie Partridge, Kaysville; and Frances Morgan, Mor-gan, Sandy. Every penny raised by the Festival of Trees helps children at Primary Children's Medical Center. Last year alone, Primary Pri-mary Children's expended over $14.3 million to ensure that every ev-ery child received medical care regardless of ability to pay. Celebrate the Holiday Season Sea-son and the love our community communi-ty has for children by attending the Festival of Trees! The Festival Fes-tival runs Wednesday, December Decem-ber 1 through Saturday, December Decem-ber 4, at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 South State Street in Sandy, Utah, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are: $5adults; $4seniors; and $3children age 11 and under. Children younger than 2 years of age are free of charge. Discount tickets are available at Zions Bank locations for: $4adults; $2.50children. Wednesday, December 1 , is "Family Day," allowing six immediate family members to attend for $15. If you are interested in volunteering, go to their website web-site at www.festivaloftreesu-tah.org. This year the Festival will feature more than 800 trees, each with its own unique style: ornate, trendy, whimsical, creative, humorous, and sentimental. The Festival of Trees celebrates cel-ebrates its 40th birthday this year, but there's nothing "over-the-hill" about Utah's favorite favor-ite Holiday tradition. Today, as one of the world's largest indoor displays of decorated Christmas Trees, the Festival embraces its Ruby Anniversary through the passion embodied by thousands of volunteers who organize and orchestrate the Festival in order to raise funds for children at Primary Children's Chil-dren's Medical Center. The Festival of Trees ushers in the Holiday Season Sea-son Wednesday, December 1 through Saturday, December 4, at the South Towne Expo Center. Cen-ter. Every penny raised benefits bene-fits Primary Children's Medical Center. Since 1971, over $24 million mil-lion has been raised for children at Primary Children's through the Festival of Trees. The event's success is propelled by the passion and support of community com-munity and volunteers. From its humble beginnings of 60 trees displayed in a gymnasium, the Festival has grown to span 220,000 square feet of display space at the South Towne Expo Center. More than 90,000 people peo-ple visit the Festival each year as they come to see over 1 ,000 displays of imaginatively decorated deco-rated Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, gingerbread creations, cre-ations, backyard playhouses, and quilts. In addition, there are activities for children and entertainment for the entire family. This year the Festival will feature more than 800' trees, each with its own unique style: ornate, trendy, whimsical, creative, cre-ative, humorous, and sentimental. sentimen-tal. Every tree is decorated and donated by individuals, families, fami-lies, businesses, church groups, and community organizations. In addition to exhibiting a distinct dis-tinct personality, each tree also has a unique story behind its creation. This year, a tree will honor the hope and healing Primary Pri-mary Children's Medical Center Cen-ter has provided for 2-year-old Bridgette Johnson and her parents par-ents Kelly and Jeff of Lindon, Utah. Only a few days after her birth, Bridgette was close to death. Her digestive organs were in distress. Bridgette was transported to Primary Children's Chil-dren's by ambulance and was diagnosed with Hirschsprung Disease, a rare medical abnormality abnor-mality affecting the intestines. Bridgette's nerve cells did not function properly. She could not process food, and she was dangerously dehydrated. Her body began to turn septic. Bridgette spent two weeks at Primary Children's and underwent under-went open-abdominal surgery. A year later, she had additional surgery to remove her entire large intestine and part of her small intestine. Today, Bridgette's condition con-dition requires a special diet and care. However, her parents par-ents are certain she will lead a fairly normal life, thanks to the treatment she received at Primary Pri-mary Children's Medical Center. Cen-ter. Kelly Johnson said, "We wanted to donate a tree to the Festival in Bridgette's honor to celebrate the fact that Primary Children's saved our daughter's life." Mrs. Johnson is naming her tree "Sugar and Spice" to recognize both the sweet and the sting that represents her first two years of parenthood. This year, the Festival of Trees will offer a limited edition edi-tion cookbook, "Celebrating 40 years of Festival - Recipes from the Heart." The book features fea-tures recipes submitted by Festival Fes-tival friends and volunteers. In addition, those who attend the event will enjoy favorite Festival Festi-val features such as fudge, divinity, di-vinity, scones, and sweet rolls to satisfy any appetite. Holiday entertainment is found on two stages, and the Gift Boutique offers handmade items for the perfect gift. The Festival offers something some-thing for the entire family, particularly par-ticularly children. Santa will be available at Santa Land to hear each child's wish and pose for photos. Kids Korner has creative activities for the young at heart, such as arts and crafts, face painting, and the opportunity opportu-nity to experience being inside a giant bubble. The Small Fry Shop carries items priced for a child's budget. "The real excitement of the Festival's 40th anniversary is celebrating our community," said Robyn Austin, Festival of Trees Executive Board Chairwoman. Chair-woman. "We are celebrating the 'Gift of Love' given to children at Primary Children's Medical Center from all who have decorated, donated, and attended the Festival for the past 40 years." |