PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — It’s time for trees, trees and more trees as the third annual Festival of Trees gets underway to benefit the St. Apollonia Dental Clinic.
A wonderland of decorated trees will be on display from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Northern Maine Community College Smith Wellness Center gym.
Raffle tickets will be available so festival goers may put in for their favorite trees with the hope of taking one home for the holidays.
Festival hours are: Friday, Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Winners will be drawn beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday.
There will be no admission fee this year. All are encouraged to attend the festival with family members and friends, to enjoy the festive atmosphere and take in the spectacle of decorated trees, along with a holiday bake sale and the Gingerbread Cafe, hosted by NMCC’s food services.
Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the weekend at a rate of 10 tickets for $5. Guests may then deposit a ticket or tickets in the bucket associated with their tree(s) of choice. All trees and any associated gift items will be raffled off Sunday afternoon.
All proceeds will support the operation of the Presque Isle children’s dental clinic.
This year the event has grown to include a new offering: specially made St. Apollonia Clinic ornaments.
“This year’s ornaments have an antique silver finish with the children’s dental clinic’s brightly colored logo on one side and the clinic and event name with year on the opposite side,” said St. Apollonia’s Dr. Norma Desjardins. “We anticipate these ornaments will be a big hit.”
As a matter of fact, the clinic has plans to continue with a new one each year, with future decorations being designed in collaboration with the Wintergreen Arts Center of Presque Isle, said Desjardins.
The festive forest has grown from 24 trees in the first year to 52 this year. Last year’s festival included 44 decorated trees.
“The Festival was first held in 2014 and is the major annual fundraiser of the County’s only children’s dental clinic, which provides comprehensive dental care for over 3,000 of our youngest citizens,” Desjardins said.
The clinic is staffed by a full-time pediatric dentist and two full time dental hygienists as well as auxiliary staff.
