A scene from the 2018 Festival of Trees . The theme that year was “ Let Heaven and Nature Sing .”
SILVER BELLS
Annual festival rings in 25 years
By Hannah Shillo hannah . shillo @ dancomnews . com
Soon , it ’ ll be Christmas Day . Until then , the Festival of Trees will help kick off the holiday season in Danville , as it has for the past 25 years .
Each November , families and friends flock to the David S . Palmer Arena for the five-day festival with the hope of finding holiday spirit as they walk through the winter wonderland with their loved ones .
The family-centric event not only showcases the different themed trees and wreaths , but also features various activities for people of all ages , including breakfast with Santa ,
From left : children Hannah Ehrlich , Scarlet Ashton , Kelsey O ’ Shaughnessy and Emma Peck work on crafts at the 1999 Festival of Trees . a princess tea party , bingo and more . There is also a children ’ s craft center for kids to make souvenirs or gifts to remember their time at the festival .
Event coordinator Jim Anderson said he and event coordinator Pat O ’ Shaughnessy were part of a larger group of volunteers who spent about a year and a half initially selling the concept of the festival back in the 1990s .
“… Whenever you ’ re going out and knocking on doors … you have to have a compelling story ,” Anderson said . “ And for 24 years , the compelling story was the community outreach programs of our local hospital .”
Since 1997 , the festival has raised more than $ 4 million for those programs , as well as for special health care initiatives for the medical center .
Prior to the festival in 2021 , operations were transferred from OSF HealthCare to Balloons Over Vermilion , a not-forprofit organization responsible for bringing a hot air balloon festival back to Vermilion County each summer since 2016 .
Now , the net proceeds from the Festival of Trees are combined with the net proceeds from Balloons Over Vermilion and then donated to the community through Community Impact Grants .
As part of the transfer agreement , a portion of the proceeds will be granted to OSF each year through 2025 . Last year , OSF received a $ 65,000 grant , which was used toward the Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Center . This year ’ s portion of the proceeds granted to OSF will be used for the “ greatest need ” in facility and equipment improvements , according to the Festival of Trees website .
In 2021 , $ 150,000 was awarded in grants to 16 different agencies in the county : Rossville-Alvin Elementary School , Winterview Youth League , Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center and Fair Hope Children ’ s Ministry each received $ 2,500 ; Danville Symphony Orchestra and Vermilion County Museum each received $ 3,000 ; Danville Area Community College Athletic Department , Danville
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