Some came for the singing and dancing. Some came to win prizes. Some came to chat with a talking tree or the trains. Some came for it all.
But whatever the reason, thousands of people turned up for the 21st Annual Vancouver Rotary Festival of Trees held at the Hilton hotel in downtown Vancouver over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Katlin Smith, a past president of the Vancouver Rotary Foundation who now helps out as a volunteer with the marketing of the event, said that it’s the biggest annual event for the organization, which provides scholarships to kids and grants to local charitable organizations. Smith said the festival requires dozens of volunteers and nearly a year of planning, and it draws 5,000 to 10,000 people annually.
Each year, the festival sells $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win one of 12 sparkling and ornately decorated Christmas trees, each of which comes with presents such as toys, high-definition TVs, trips and other items donated by local businesses.
If You Go
• What: Vancouver Rotary Foundation’s Festival of Trees, featuring decorated tree-viewing and raffle ticket sales; model railroad display; scavenger hunt; talk show; concerts; Vancouver Farmers Market holiday market.
• When: noon-4 p.m. Nov. 27. Vancouver Community Concert Band: 2 p.m. Nov. 27.
• Where: Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St.
• Admission: Suggested $5 donation.
• Online: http://rotaryfestivaloftrees.org
“We were so lucky with the weather — it didn’t rain,” said Smith of Friday’s Community Tree Lighting in Esther Short Park, which coincided with the festival’s opening. “It’s been very crowded, very packed with the dance groups and the choruses, so lots of grandparents and parents came.”
On Saturday afternoon, school-age kids dressed as reindeer, elves and toy soldiers scurried through crowds outside the entrance to Discover Ballroom. Inside, over 400 people were checking out the raffle trees and watching the dance troupes and choirs that had come from all over Clark County to perform.
“I just love the kids’ enthusiasm, the discipline, the dedication, the smiles on their faces,” said Randy Bauder, the event’s entertainment chair, while watching Dance Fusion NW, a local dance troupe, perform to holiday classics and newer songs. “Just look at them; they are fantastic.”
Emma Doddridge, a 14-year-old who attends Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, said that performing as a member of Dance Fusion NW, one of about 20 acts that performed, is challenging during the busy holidays. But it’s worth it. “There is always a big crowd,” she said.
Others came to check out the 12-by-6-foot train track model that replicates various places along the Columbia River and in Vancouver.
“We love showing it to the kids,” said Bill Wheeler, president of the Southwest Washington Model Railroaders. “Now some of the kids are up in their 70s, but they enjoy it.”
Markus Osborn, a 4-year-old from Vancouver accompanied by his great-grandmother, stood on a stool enthralled by the trains that zipped by.
“Look! There’s a passenger train!” he exclaimed, and, “That freight car is too heavy!”
In addition to the 12 raffle prize trees, there was also the ever-popular Talking Tree, a Christmas tree that chatted up any kid who came near its branches.
“Thank you for coming to visit me here. I get a little lonely,” the Talking Tree told a group of children. “I never get to see the dancers. Are you having fun?”
“We’re having fun,” replied Aleah Bohac, 3, who attended the event with her family.
