Another large crowd is expected to attend the kickoff event on Saturday for the 6th Annual Nk’Mip Resort Festival of Trees. The fun begins at 2:30 p.m. The highlight will be the lighting of the Tree of Hope outside the entrance to the Spirit Ridge Resort and Spa at 5 p.m. The event has helped raise more than $60,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation over the past five years. (Keith Lacey file photo)
An event that has become as much a part of the Christmas season as Santa Claus and Christmas shopping is ready to roll once again starting this weekend.
The 6th Annual Nk’Mip Resort Festival of Trees kicks off on Saturday afternoon at the Spirit Ridge Resort and Spa, with the official lighting of the huge tree outside the main entrance to the hotel lobby set for 5 p.m.
“The Festival of Trees has become a big part of the annual Christmas Light Up festivities in Osoyoos and we’re also glad to be part of the Winter in Wine Festival the past couple of years,” said Jenn Nelson, assistant manager at Spirit Ridge.
“We’re expecting another large turnout of families for this year’s kickoff event on Saturday.”
Between 150 and 200 people traditionally show up for the kickoff to the Festival of Trees and she expects another solid crowd on Saturday, said Nelson.
The festival is open to the public and residents are invited to browse through the holiday display at the Nk’Mip Resort and enjoy the holiday splendor.
There is no admission, but a minimum donation of $2 is requested to help raise money for the event’s main charity – the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, said Nelson.
“Over the past five years, we’re proud to say the Festival of Trees in Osoyoos has helped raise more than $60,000 for the children’s hospital foundation,” she said.
For donations over $25, the children’s hospital foundation will issue tax receipts.
As has become tradition, numerous local businesses get involved by sponsoring and decorating a tree, which is then put on display to the public throughout the festival, which starts Saturday and wraps up on Jan. 3, said Nelson.
Residents help raise money by voting for their favourite tree over the course of the festival.
The trees will be on display everyday through the holiday season with the Nk’Mip Cellars winery open to 6 p.m. daily and the main lodge at Spirit Ridge open until 10 p.m.
The event’s secondary beneficiary will be the Osoyoos-based Spirit of the Game, which raises money to assist local families by donating funding so children can participate in minor sports and other recreational activities.
Funds for Spirit of the Game will be raised this year through a silent auction of items donated by local and regional businesses, said Nelson.
The original Festival of Trees was started in Vancouver 29 years ago to raise funds for the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation and has grown in several communities in the years since.
There were over 2,200 visitors to last year’s Festival of Trees and organizers are hoping for the same kind of attendance and support this year, said Nelson.
More than 40 trees are expected to be on display during this year’s festival, said Nelson.
Every year, the B.C. Children’s Hospitals treat over 85,000 children who otherwise may not receive the medical attention they deserve and need.
Participants from sponsored trees will start decorating their trees on Thursday.
All of the artificial trees are nine feet tall and each company provides lights in the colour theme of their choice. A team of no more than five people are allowed to decorate each tree.
The fun begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and there will be plenty of activities to keep children busy until the official lighting of the Tree of Hope at 5 p.m., said Nelson.
“We’re hoping for another really good event to kick off our Festival of Trees,” she said. “We will again have people coming in from as far away as Summerland and Kelowna for the kickoff, but most in attendance will be from our local community here in Osoyoos.
“We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday afternoon.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
