HOULTON, Maine — The elaborately decorated holiday trees are arriving at the big red barn on Foxcroft Road in preparation for the Houlton Health Services Foundation annual fundraiser that opens later this week.
The Festival of Trees draws thousands of visitors from all over Maine and Canada and organizers are hoping that this year’s event will raise more than last year’s whopping $95,000. The event previously raised $71,000 in 2022 and $24,000 in 2021.
“There are no words to express how thankful we are to the donors of the trees and to every single person who bought a ticket,” said Houlton Health Services Foundation Executive Director Lori Weston, who organizes the fundraising event.
The festival trees aren’t just any old holiday trees decorated with tinsel and garland. These trees are packed with gifts. Event goers buy raffle tickets for trees they hope to win and drop the tickets into a bucket in front of the chosen tree. On the final day of the event, names are drawn from the buckets.
Last year, some trees totaled over $2,000 in gift cards, cash and other items. There was a mystery tree made up of wrapped boxes, the value of which totaled $1,000. Another tree was loaded with handmade hats and mittens, and another that had more than eight gift cards, $500 off a set of tires and other gifts. There were camping equipment trees, woodworking tool trees, and others loaded with stunning ornaments, toys and hand-knit stockings.
There were 50 trees last year and the generosity of the donors this year has surpassed expectations.
Weston said the foundation has more trees than it ever has before. The entries are sweet and sentimental, and include trees tailored to men, women, children and families.
“Just when you think it isn’t possible that people could be more creative, more imaginative or more generous, the goodness overflows,” Weston said.
Some of this year’s highlights include a handmade cedar bench with a tree on each side, a palm tree Christmas tree and a tree made of fishing poles, she said.
The festival opens at noon on Friday, Nov. 15, and runs every day through Nov. 24 at Sunset Farm, 436 Foxcroft Road. Santa will make an appearance on Nov. 22 and the annual drawing is at 2 p.m. Nov. 24.
The money raised funds life-saving equipment for the hospital, first responders, nonprofit area health care clinics and youth sports teams, Weston said.
“The extraordinary generosity of the very creative and amazing trees and holiday items from donors will astound you,” said Weston. “Just strolling through the beautiful barn will soothe your soul and get you in the proper holiday spirit.”
