It’s a Wonderful Life at the Savanna Festival of Trees

The 2nd Annual Festival of Trees opened Saturday at the Savanna Museum & Cultural Center, 406 Main Street, Savanna, Illinois with 51 delightfully decorated Christmas trees. A variety of sponsors - local businesses, nursing home residents, scouts, banks, businesses, 4–H and service clubs, a church, gift shops, hair salons and individuals –contributed to the event. Sponsors supplied their own trees and plenty of imagination.

Each tree is one-of-a kind. There’s a tree made from barbed wire, an elegant crystal wedding tree and a tree of hand -painted gourds. A poignant favorite was done by nursing home residents who strung purple beaded decorations and dedicated their tree to a cure for Alzheimer’s.

The Festival is a project of the Savanna Historical Society and includes 60 raffles to raise funds for an elevator and renovations to their museum. To participate in the event, each sponsor donated a raffle item to put under their tree. Sponsors generously gave over $2500 worth of items for the raffles. Prizes include a handmade porcelain doll, and fishing rod & sightseeing boat trip on the Mississippi.

The Festival is a project of the Savanna Historical Society NFP. Building on its 2011 success, this year the Society added sponsors from several nearby cities. On Friday, the Society held a well-attended black tie Jingle Mingle party held to thank sponsors and kick off the event.

The Festival runs from Dec 1-9th. Hours are Sat & Sun 11-7pm and 4-7pm Monday- Friday. Santa visits on Saturday from 2-4pm. The Festival is open to the public. Admission is free.