From the Belhaven Arts Council

The Belhaven Arts Council will be sponsoring our fourth-annual Festival of the Trees this holiday season. We will provide a beautiful and diverse indoor display of decorated Christmas trees, which will be available for the public’s viewing pleasure, free of charge. Donations to the Belhaven Arts Council are welcome.

This year, our tree display will be held daily at the Wilkinson Center from Dec. 13-18. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 14, noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 16-18. The Wilkinson Center is located at 144 W. Main St., Belhaven.

The Arts Council is inviting local businesses, individuals, churches, schools and organizations to decorate one of the trees to be on display. Each tree will have a placard identifying the sponsor, with a name and logo if you wish. We will provide the tree and the placard, or you may provide your own tree if you wish. This event helps raise money to support the Belhaven Arts Council.

A large tree can be decorated for a suggested donation of $50 and a small tree for $25. We ask that you provide your own decorations, ornaments and lights. We encourage you to decorate your own tree. The Arts Council will use money raised to help support education in the arts for all ages and also to provide public entertainment and support for local artists.

Donations of undecorated trees and ornaments will be appreciated, so keep us in mind as you sort through last year’s decorations. We will be happy to pick them up. Please call 801-259-7446 for more information

We hope to have about 75 trees on display this year. They will be judged and awards will be given. A first-place prize valued at $100, a second-place prize valued at $50 and a third-place prize with a value of $25. Winners will be decided by the public, with one vote per person, per visit.

The trees will be available for decorating on site Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. The display will be open to the public Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. and tear down will be Dec. 19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be live entertainment at various times throughout the show and performance times listed. If you are interested in performing, please let us know.

New this year, we are offering photo shoots by Michelle Hooper. Bring your family, your pets, your company and friends. Wedding pictures for those December weddings would be beautiful. We will have the Grinch and Santa Claus available too, plus many Christmas props. These will be on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Reservations will be taken and the cost is $150 per session. Text Michelle at 808-280-9908 to schedule early to get a good time slot. A portion of money collected goes to the Arts Council.

Also new this year, the Arts Council is painting holiday windows. The cost is a donation. Call Elaine Hudnell to order yours at 252-944-5407.

Vendor space will be available for rent, including food, crafts and Christmas gifts. A space roughly 6-by-10 feet will be available by the day (any number of days you request). The cost will be 10% of sales and is due at the close of each day. We ask that you choose days ahead of time to allow us to schedule other vendors. If you have any questions, please call Kaye Lee at 801-259-7446.