Festival of Trees takes place this weekend

Published 3:30 am Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Hundreds of volunteers from Sequim and Port Angeles help to create the Festival of Trees, according to the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, which hosts the annual event.

The Festival of Trees “involves our entire community,” said Lindsay Fox, chief growth officer for the OMC Foundation.

The 35th Annual Festival of Trees, presented by First Fed, began Tuesday with Opening Ceremonies and continues Friday through Sunday at the Vern Burton Community Center at 308 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.

The theme of the event is The Nutcracker Ball, which was emphasized at the Opening Ceremonies on Tuesday on the lawn outside the Vern Burton Center, where dancers with the Port Angeles City Ballet performed a history of The Nutcracker in 12-foot-diameter lighted Christmas ornaments.

This year’s Opening Ceremonies were moved to the Tuesday before Thanksgiving instead of Thanksgiving Eve since the day before the holiday can be a difficult time for people to attend an event, said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the OMC Foundation.

On Friday will be the Teddy Bear Teas, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and the Gala, where decorated Christmas trees and their premiums will be auctioned off to support purchases of equipment and other needs for the Olympic Medical Center.

On Saturday will be the Senior Breakfast and the first Family Days, where guests can view the trees and wreaths. On Sunday will be the second Family Days.

As always, the centerpiece of the festival are the 50-some elaborately decorated Christmas trees and wreaths created by some of the area’s best designers – all volunteers.

Volunteers are behind each of the activities offered during the festival.

“Just to make it happen takes hundreds of volunteers,” Fox said. “It’s such a community event.”

“This year, more student groups are volunteering,” she said, adding that 23 teams and organizations in Sequim and Port Angeles are donating their time and talents.

The Teddy Bear Teas and Family Days are primarily staffed by high school students. “They get so excited to come back and work it,” Fox said.

“Youth groups from the high schools come every year, the port, Rotary — it’s everybody, all hands on deck,” she said.

The trees and wreaths will preside over the Teddy Bear Teas on Friday morning while student volunteers – many of whom attended the teas as youngsters — dress in costume to entertain the young guests, The trees and their premiums are auctioned off at that night’s Gala, where trees bring in thousands of dollars each to be donated to Olympic Medical Center.

The trees will be on view during the Senior Breakfast Saturday morning and Family Days on Saturday and Sunday.

New features have been added to each activity of the Thanksgiving Weekend festival.

“The weekend itinerary keeps growing every year,” Fox said.

Friday night’s Gala will be followed by an After Hours Party at the Red Lion Hotel at 221 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles.

This revives an earlier tradition in which Gala guests would stay after the dinner and auction to dance, while bringing them to Port Angeles’ downtown to keep the party going, Fox said.

Reckless Dove will play covers, pop, rock for plenty of dance music until 11 p.m. in the Red Lion ballroom. Complementary appetizers and a no-host bar will be offered.

The Stardust Big Band, a 17-piece jazz ensemble based in Sequim, will perform for the Senior Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday.

During Family Days on Saturday, Fat Ferdie and the Stolen Sweets, a Sequim jazz quartet, will play at 10 a.m. and at noon, youth dancers from Studio 360 of Port Angeles will perform.

During Family Days on Sunday, Nov. 30, At Large, featuring Amanda Bacon and Todd Ortloff, will perform at 11 a.m. At noon, a Hawaiian ukulele group of about 40 people from Sequim and Port Angeles will entertain.

Sprinkled throughout Vern Burton both Family Days will be quartets from the Port Angeles High School Orchestra, as well as children’s games and activities and photos with Santa. Guests can buy into a raffle for a 6-foot decorated Christmas tree, buy a wreath and view the auctioned trees.

Here is the list of events, all at the Vern Burton Community Center, with ticket prices.

• Teddy Bear Teas: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday. Presented by Erika Ralston Word of Windermere for parents and children, Santa will make his first appearance at the event and will be available for photos with each child. Photos will be printed and available to pick up immediately following the event. Tickets are $16 each for general admission or $32 each for VIP admission, which includes champagne.

• Festival of Trees Gala: Doors open at 5 p.m., Friday. Presented by First Fed, participants will enjoy a buffet dinner, tree auction and silent auction. Tickets are $110 each.

• Senior Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 29. Breakfast will be served for all ages, entertainment, and tree viewing. Tickets are $20 each.

• Family Days: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, with Santa photos from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, with Santa photos from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can view the trees, wreaths and other decorations as well as purchase raffle tickets and enjoy entertainment,. Tickets are $8, with those 12 and under free.

Tickets can be purchased online at omhf.org, by calling 360-417-7144 or by going to the Foundation office at 1015 Georgiana Street in Port Angeles.

The Festival of Trees is among the OMC Foundation’s largest fundraisers. Proceeds from all Foundation fundraisers are donated to the Olympic Medical Center for equipment and other needs.