Exeter's Festival of Trees: A true collaboration of holiday spirit

EXETER — The Festival of Trees doesn’t just magically appear at the Exeter Town Hall every year.

The spectacular showcase of festively decorated trees is the result of a community coming together to ensure that local children in need stay warm in the winter. The Festival of Trees Committee, along with local business owners, schools, groups, and community-based organizations work as a team to create the festival every year.

A few days before the event, 50 live trees are delivered to the Town Hall, thanks to Dan Jackson at Arjay Ace Hardware. The Exeter Men’s Walking Group then works to prepare the trees by trimming the trunks and cutting the netting before the committee of 38 women and other volunteers set them up in stands donated by Jack Post Tree Stands.

Finally, the registered decorators choose their trees and creatively trim them using their own lights and decorations. During the festival, committee members wearing their signature red scarves, can be seen in a variety of roles welcoming visitors. Many of these dedicated women have been participating for over 20 years.

The public is invited to stroll through the Town Hall on both Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. to view the trees, place bids, take chances on the raffle tree covered with over $5,200 worth of gift certificates, and enjoy baked goods in the Cookie Room.

On Dec. 1, the event will coincide with the “Holiday Block Party” near the Bandstand, which includes the Lighting of the Town, Santa’s Visit and the Gingerbread House Competition at the Congregational Church.

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, there will be a singing performance by Exeter High School’s Tri-M Music Honors Society, a group dedicated to spreading joy through music. Kevin Joyce will be singing Christmas carols on Thursday, Dec. 1.

All of the proceeds from the Festival of Trees benefit the Community Children’s Fund (CCF) providing warm winter clothing and bedding for children in need throughout 12 local communities. Last year, the CCF, under the auspices of the Exeter Area Charitable Foundation, distributed 686 vouchers; almost $90,000 in value. Recipients are identified by area social service agencies and school nurses. Over $45,000 was raised at last year’s Festival of Trees event and it is one of the primary donors to this foundation.

“A true partnership has developed between the Chamber of Commerce, the Exeter Area Charitable Foundation and the Festival of Trees Committee over the past 24 years and it is yet another example of the wonderful holiday spirit and collaboration we see in our community,” said Bonnie Galinski, co-chair of the Festival of Trees.

Galinski said that the committee often receives heartfelt thank you notes from families who qualify for the vouchers.

One mother wrote, “This program has meant so much to my family this year. Our bedroom has little to no heat which becomes a problem especially when the temps drop below freezing. We were able to buy a heated mattress pad for our daughter’s bed. Also, we were able to buy our son a very warm winter coat and our daughter insulated boots. Happy Holidays from a very grateful family in Exeter.”

Loyal underwriters have donated close to $20,000 to the CCF.

This year, the committee is grateful to: BankProv, Chinburg Builders, Edward Jones- Karen Behrens, Exeter Hospital, Graham Tire and Auto, Susan Conway- Pipers Property Management, Access Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, BMW of Stratham, Cummings, Lamont, & McNamee PLLC, D.F. Richard, Nathan Wechsler and Company PA, Newburyport Bank, Northland Forest Products, Phillips Exeter Academy, Riverwoods of Exeter, Service Federal Credit, Mila by The White Apron, Bayside Distributing, M&T Bank, Sons of the American Legion Squad 67 Newmarket, Perkins Power Equipment, Citizens Bank, CP Management, F.W. Webb, Kingston Insurance, Proulx Oil and Propane, and United Underwriters.

For more information or to donate, please visit the Festival of Trees website at https://bit.ly/3WN8bkN or go to the Facebook page “Festival of Trees –Exeter, N.H.” for updates. For any questions, contact the Exeter Chamber of Commerce at 603-772-2411.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter community comes together for annual Festival of Trees