The Festival of Trees is back in Nanaimo to raise cash for B.C. Children’s Hospital.
The festival was absent from Nanaimo’s list of Christmas events for a few years, but this week 24 trees sponsored and decorated by teams from local businesses and organizations will deck the halls of Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Auditorium lobby.
“I think it has been three years since they did it and we’re just bringing it back,” said Chad McGillivary, B.C. Children’s Hospital community ambassador and Festival of Trees event committee chairman.
The trees were being decorated this week and viewing will be open to public on Thursday, Nov. 22.
This year’s fundraising goal is $15,000 and as of Tuesday, business sponsors had already contributed $11,000, McGillivary said. Visitors can donate $5 to vote for their favourite trees. Decorating teams are in competition to win the people’s choice award and each week the list of the top 10 trees will be revealed.
“If we could get 1,000 votes we could hit 15 grand,” McGillivary said.
The trees can be viewed 9 a.m. until noon daily until Jan. 8.
To learn more, click here or here.
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