10 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | HOLIDAY EDITION 2024
13th annual Festival of Trees moving to new venue
BY PENNYLYNN WEBB
The Dogwood Garden Club ’ s 13th annual Festival of Trees will have a new outdoor venue . Founder and event Chair Linda Jean Brown announced the 2024 festival will appear on the lawn of the Palestine Public Library , also known as the Carnegie Library , and city hall .
Brown brought the idea for the contest to Palestine after seeing a similar event in Florida 14 years ago , and it has been a way for nonprofits organizations to publicize their name and what they do while competing to win cash prizes to benefit their group .
This is the first time the Festival of Trees will have an outdoor setting .
When Brown started the event in 2012 , the trees were set up in the Palestine Mall . In 2021 , Brown made arrangements for the trees to be placed in the windows of various downtown businesses .
“ We look forward to this new staging for our non-profit themed trees and accessories . Under the guidance of Pasty Smith , Palestine Parks and Recreation director , and her team , they will be assisting with the stabilization of trees ,” Brown said .
She added that if more space is needed , Cassie Ham , tourism and marketing Director for the city , said she will assist them by using the wrap-around porch at the Palestine Visitor Center to stage more trees for the event .
“ We hope that we create a little Hallmark town for the Christmas season ,” Brown said .
Andrew Gregory , general manager of Ben E . Keith , has sponsored this competition each year , awarding the cash prizes to the top winners . This year , a total of $ 2,000 will be given out to four of the top chosen trees .
This contest is not about having the most beautiful tree , Brown said . Trees are judged on a scale of points located in the guideline forms , which each nonprofit participant receives . Judging is done based solely on the scale of points .
Staging of the trees is set for Thursday , Nov . 21 . The trees will be on display through December .
Members of the Dogwood Garden Club of Palestine have been working to beautify Palestine and Anderson County for more than eight decades with annual projects that include decorating the Christmas trees at the rotunda inside the Anderson County Courthouse and the two themed Christmas trees in the lobby of the Anderson County Annex building for the holiday season . They also maintain several parks in Palestine throughout the year .
COURTESY PHOTO
Event founder Linda Jean Brown admires a tree entry during a previous Festival of Trees competition .
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10 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | HOLIDAY EDITION 2024