Last Updated on November 14, 2022 8:31 am
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with more than 100 trees and wreaths displayed across the High Country as part of the Western Youth Network (WYN) annual Festival of Trees.
The trees are decorated by designers, retailers, High Country businesses and individuals — and displayed at public locations in West Jefferson, Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and the Linville area. Decorated trees, many with extra gifts and gift certificates, will be sold on an online auction which opens Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 12pm.
A selection of festive holiday wreaths, most of which will be on display at the Watauga County Recreation Center will be added to the auction on Nov. 29.
The auction runs through Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8pm. The Festival of Trees is presented by the Leslie Eason Real Estate Team with Keller Williams. Key events of the festival include:
- Tour the trees 11/16 – 12/1. Map link to tree locations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Jh7SIpnGTExGBjz2zse2xmdrWZmUhKY&usp=sharing
- Auction online, visit wynfestivaloftrees.com
- Wreath Making Extravaganza on Monday, 11/28, 6-8 pm at The Beacon in Boone (ticketed event).
- Hot Chocolate Social on Wednesday, 11/30, 4-6pm (drop in), free and open to all at the Watauga Rec Center.
- Festival Finale Party, Thursday, 12/1, 5:30-8:30pm (drop in) at Ransom in Boone, open to all.
This is the eighth year for the festival, which raises funds for WYN (Western Youth Network), a non-profit agency that provides programs for children and adolescents in order to build a better future and stronger community for the High Country.
“Displaying trees in the community gives us the opportunity to introduce more people to the mission of WYN,” said Jennifer Warren, executive director of WYN.
Warren said she has seen the needs of area youth increase in the past couple of years. The annual Festival of Trees fundraiser provides necessary funds for helping children, plus educates the community about ways to support WYN — including opportunities to volunteer as mentors to the children.
“It’s a great way to spread holiday cheer,” Warren added. “The trees are always beautiful and make people smile.”
For more information, visit wynfestivaloftrees.com.
Link to the Festival of Trees map of tree displays:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Jh7SIpnGTExGBjz2zse2xmdrWZmUhKY&usp=sharing
Photos (sample of trees from last year’s festival):
The Mustard Seed in Blowing Rock has decorated a tree each year for the WYN Festival of Trees, and their entry is always a crowd favorite. This tree was sold at the 2021 festival.
Both large and small trees are available in the WYN Festival of Trees auction. This tree, donated by Rubitrux in Boone, was sold in the 2021 festival auction.
