THE BATTLEFORDS — Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation has announced its dates the 2021 Festival of Trees.
The annual event runs from Wednesday, Nov. 24 to Wednesday, Dec. 8.
According to the foundation, the plan is for “beautifully decorated Christmas items" to be on display at Frontier Centre and at Territorial Place Mall. These, as well as "Christmas is Coming" silent auction packages, will be available for online bidding at buhfoundation.com.
“We are looking forward to hosting the 26th Festival of Trees in The Battlefords. We have a lot of great events planned for the two weeks and have received wonderful sponsorship and support from the community to help make it all possible,” says JoAnne Iverson, BUH Foundation Board of Directors Festival of Trees committee member. “We invite everyone to join us and be a part of this fun event, whether it’s by bidding on the decorated items and silent auction packages or joining in the events, there is something for everyone.”
The traditional Family Day, Gala and Christmas High Tea are described as “boxed events” — meaning, boxes can be ordered and picked up or delivered for people to enjoy among themselves.
On offer for the Christmas High Tea Dec. 3 will be “delicious scones, handmade clotted cream, jams, finger sandwiches, petite fours and tea,” which will be boxed for your enjoyment. It comes prepared for two people at $50 a box, and can be picked up at 3 p.m. and later at Blend Restaurant & Bar (1602 - 100th St.); delivery is also available.
People can pre-order and reserve Christmas High Tea boxes for delivery (in the Battlefords) or by pick-up on Friday, Dec 3. Call 306-446-6652 to order. Online ordering will also be available at https://www.buhfoundation.com/fundraisers/festival_of_trees/festival_home.html.
Dec. 4, starting at 6:30 p.m., is the Gala Getaway. This will be a tropical-vacation themed event as BUH Foundation partners with Cooking with Co-op for an interactive virtual event. In that event you will cook, eat and drink along with host Tracy Voigt.
A ticket for Gala Getaway and Cooking with Co-op, Festival of Trees edition, will provide you the cooking kit and everything you need for the meal, along with a tropical-themed vacation package for two, and a chance to win a real life getaway ($1,000 travel voucher). Tickets are $220. The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 29, 4:30 p.m. and the number to call is 306-446-6652. Online ordering is available at https://www.buhfoundation.com/fundraisers/festival_of_trees/festival_home.html.
“We are grateful to all of our sponsors, donors and volunteers that are helping to bring Festival of Trees 2021 to The Battlefords,” says Shauna McGifford, BUH Foundation Fund Development Officer. “BUH Foundation receives such wonderful support from organizations, businesses and community members. We can’t say enough how much we appreciate their commitment to making this event happen and to supporting enriched healthcare in the Battlefords.”
There are many schools and children’s groups participating in the “Wonders of Christmas” Trees by Children. The children are making Christmas decorations that will be delivered to a senior home within the Battlefords to decorate a tree for the residents and provide a little bit of Festival of Trees to enjoy this Christmas season in their own homes.
New for 2021 is the McDonald’s Festival Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 27. Stop by either McDonald’s locations in North Battleford for a breakfast sandwich and more. One dollar from the sale of every Egg McMuffin, Bacon & Egg McMuffin and Sausage & Egg McMuffin sold between 7 a.m.and 11 a.m. will be donated to the Festival of Trees and enriched healthcare.
Also new for 2021 is also The Cup Cake & Bakery who will be baking a Festival of Trees cupcake for Wednesday – Friday, Nov. 24–26. These cupcakes can be purchased individually, or order a dozen for your family and the office. A portion of the sales will be donated to Festival of Trees and enriched healthcare.
Festival of Trees proceeds go to the Women’s Health and Birthing Centre to purchase a Biliblanket that allows newborns to be wrapped and held during treatment for jaundice. Proceeds also go to the purchase new technology in a Bilirubin Jaundice Meter, which will eliminate the need for heel pricks in newborns as well as the wait for lab results.
