Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:53 PM CST
Annual Festival of Trees a draw for family fun
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Seven-year-old Chance Kremer looked like a cat that had cornered a fat mouse Saturday as he left the Festival of Trees at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Actually, the huge plush stuffed toy mouse carried by the shy lad was for hugging.
“It was the softest thing in there,” said Dr. Marlene Kremer as she held a boxed “mystery” gift she had purchased in one of the rooms hosting the fundraiser that displays different sizes of trees, elaborate wreaths and colorful wooden stockings.
“Chance always comes with me,” she added. “He loves Christmas. And he helps me decorate. There are always a lot of people here and a lot of creative people, too.”
Four-year-old Carmen Fuller was sucking on a fat candy cane stick as she looked over the mini trees with her grandmother, Nancy Reardon of Mattoon, and mother, Michelle Fuller, and an infant sibling. The toy-studded mini trees brought the candy cane stick out of Fuller’s mouth long enough to offer some gift hints.
“I think she’s going to have a tree of her own this year,” Reardon said with a laugh.
The Festival of Trees, which helps with health-related programs, including efforts to combat childhood obesity, is becoming a tradition as families come out to bid on items up for auction or enjoy the pre-Christmas atmosphere.
Teens and tweens Caroline Zuhone, Megan Randolph, Mary Zuhone and Rachel Irvin were admiring a tree with a theme they could enjoy: “Twilight,” the vampire book and movie series. But coming to the Festival of Trees has been getting into their blood for a few years.
“We’ve been coming for a long time. It’s kind of a tradition,” said Caroline Zuhone.
Irvin was enjoying her first visit and said she was impressed with some retro displays, like the tree that features “A Christmas Story” theme, based on the 1983 movie about a boy wanting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
Mary Zuhone said she liked the eye-popping tree with pink and white branches that had a Disney and Barbie theme.
The festival includes live entertainment, like Barber Shop singers of The County Line, and piano performances, including a duet of Christmas season favorites Saturday morning.
“I liked how two people were playing together on the piano,” Irvin said.
“This puts you in a Christmas mood,” said Randolph.
Kim and Brittan Lockart doubled up on helping with some details on this year’s edition of the Festival of Trees. They are mother and daughter and Kim coordinated the fest effort this year.
“It’s something you have to be completely dedicated to like my mom is. And there are so many volunteers helping out as well,” said Brittan Lockart, a Lake Land College student and intern with the hospital foundation.
Kim Lockart said the creativity of the different displays was impressive this year, including a “Going Green” Tree from Sugar Mountain Farms, featuring orange slices, pine cones, red peppers and translucent ribbons. The tree was real and will be planted as part of the green theme.
The festival is showing the community’s heart, Lockart said, by raising money for programs with a focus on helping SBLHC patients and promoting community health.
“Children at risk from obesity and heart disease is something we decided to focus on. We’re trying to help children and their families make healthy choices,” Lockart said.
So the family tradition of the Festival of Trees might help teach healthier lifestyles to different generations and make Christmas a happier time for years to come.
The online auction for the Festival of Trees continues midnight Nov. 30, with memorabilia, autographed albums, cartoon strips, trips and other items available. It is accessible via at www.sarahbush.org.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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