Story by Kasandra Easley
Photos by Anais Keenon
Walking in through a pair of open double doors, holiday music rings through the air. The room is dim and the lights from nearly fifty Christmas trees cast a warm glow. Momentarily, the outside cold slips away. Friendly volunteers greet passersby as they gawk at each tree, decorated with various themes ranging from “Letters to Santa” to “We Love Our Ducks.” Once again, the annual Festival of Trees has hit Eugene, and this year’s display is nothing less than impressive.
“As soon as we walked in, it was Christmas,” says Leah Mancino, a first-time visitor, as she saunters from tree to tree.
Cascade Health Solutions hosted the annual event on the Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend at Eugene’s Valley River Inn. In that time, an average of 18,000 visitors came out to look at decorated trees and gingerbread houses. Stockings, baskets, wreaths, and edible goodies were also for sale, allowing visitors to take a piece of the event home with them.
At the Festival, community volunteers were plentiful. According to Margie Brooks, the vice president of Cascade Health Foundation, 1,300 volunteers divvy up 900 three-hour shifts. In its eighteen years of existence, the event has raised over $10 million. Each year, the funds go to a local organization that strives to better the community.
“It’s truly a family event and a kick-off to the holiday season,” Brooks says. “There’s something here for everyone.”
For festivalgoers Shirley and Robert Leber the hall lined with stockings is their favorite. “They’re just beautiful,” says Shirley, with her husband nodding in agreement.
Jessica Rivers, a local radio DJ for FM Mix 94.5, says, “The trees are fantastic, but for me, it’s all about the smells of the holidays the trees bring to life.”
Besides soaking up holiday cheer with family and friends, the Festival of Trees is also a fundraiser for one of Cascade Health Solutions’ endeavors.
“Cascade Health Solutions strives to meet unmet health care needs. The Pete Moore Hospice House does just that,” says Brooks.
The upcoming hospice house will be the first in the Lane County area. The health group has already planned out the logistics of the 15,000-square foot facility that would provide care to those with life-limiting illnesses. Although the facility has yet to be built, all proceeds from this year’s event will go to the project.
“It’s such a great cause,” says Norma Bliss, who has volunteered at the Festival of Trees for fourteen years. She thoroughly enjoys donating her time to various local projects in the Lane County-area.
As a volunteer, Bliss says interacting with community members is the highlight for her. Her favorite part is “advising people on what they’re seeing – or not seeing,” she says, with a twinkle in her eye.
Shifting her eyes from the gathering crowd to the ornately tied bow atop the tree to her left, Bliss breathes in and exhales. “It makes you feel good,” she says, with a slow smile sneaking across her face.
