By Emily Nafziger, The Baby Fold
For 30 years, The Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees has helped Central Illinois kick off the holiday season with all the sights and sounds of Christmas.
Join your friends and neighbors at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, November 16–18, to stroll through the Enchanted Forest of Christmas trees, peek inside miniature masterpieces in the Gingerbread Village, and tell Santa your Christmas wishes in Jingle Bell Junction. The Festival of Trees is truly a family-friendly event with something for everyone.
The event is much more than just a delightful Christmas tradition. It is also a very important fundraiser for The Baby Fold. Each year the organization counts on the Festival of Trees to secure vital funding to support the local children and families in its care.
With its early roots in adoption, The Baby Fold now offers life-critical support through foster care, special education, early intervention programming, and adoption support to local children and families. The organization is a unique resource with a strong and enduring heritage, caring for the community’s youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve.
Festival of Trees Attractions
The Festival of Trees features hundreds of holiday wreaths, swags, centerpieces, and other décor, all carefully crafted and donated by local residents. The items are all up for bid in an online auction. You are sure to find a wreath to place on your door to greet family and friends, a centerpiece to decorate your dining room table, and even a quilted table runner to adorn your Christmas buffet.
The Christmas trees in the Enchanted Forest are always a highlight of the event. Trees from 1-foot to 7-feet tall, in a multitude of themes, are available to stroll through, enjoy, and purchase in the silent auction.
Children can take part in our kids’ scavenger hunt as they explore the Festival of Trees, and they can chat with Santa when they get to Jingle Bell Junction! You’ll also find take-home craft kits and fun photo opportunities near Santa’s workshop.
And don’t miss the confectionary creations in the Gingerbread Village! Take in the aromas of gingerbread and icing as you peek into expertly crafted homes, barns, and more, all from local gingerbread architects and builders.
The Bake Shop features homemade goodies to enjoy as you stroll through the Festival of Trees. Items here are also great hostess gifts for your upcoming holiday parties. And if you miss the Bake Shop, you can still grab a festively decorated sugar cookie from the Cookie Shop while you sip on coffee or hot chocolate from the Coffee Shop in the Enchanted Forest.
This year’s Festival of Trees will feature an Avanti’s Family Night on Friday, November 17! Enjoy a fabulous pasta dinner while listening to local musicians on stage.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Festival of Trees, visitors on Saturday will also get the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts in our one-of-a-kind Holiday Market! Vendors will be open from 9am–3pm, selling children’s toys, handmade soaps, candles, boutique women’s and children’s clothing, fine art, and other locally made items perfect for gifting.
Kick off the holiday season with your loved ones and help support local children and families. Don’t miss The Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees!
Visit FestOfTrees.org for tickets, links to the online auction, a list of our generous event sponsors, and more.
Schedule of Events
Tickets are now on sale!
Purchase them at www.FestOfTrees.org
- November 16, 3pm: Bidding in the silent auction opens online!
- November 16, 4–8pm: Festival of Trees opens at The Interstate Center (1106 Interstate Drive) in Bloomington
- November 17, 9am–8pm: Festival of Trees is open
- November 17, 5–7pm: Avanti’s Family Dinner—Bring the whole family to enjoy a pasta dinner from Avanti’s Italian Restaurant!
- November 18, 9am–8pm: Festival of Trees is open
- November 18, 9am–3pm: Holiday Market is open
- November 18, 8pm: Bidding ends, and the silent auction closes. Get your bids in before time runs out!
- November 19, 12–3pm: Auction item pickup at The Interstate Center
