TULALIP – Christmas came early for Providence Children’s Services as hundreds of people donated thousands of dollars at the Opening Night Reception of the 29th Annual Festival Trees at the Tulalip Casino Resort Dec. 2.
“It’s the magic of Festival of Trees,” emcee Sean Straub said.
A community open house will take place Dec. 3 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Orca Ballroom. Along with seeing the decorated trees, visitors will receive refreshments and listen to Christmas music.
The hundreds in attendance Tuesday night participated in a silent auction with a variety of items, including: a night at the Seattle Marriott, Everett fire chief for a day, Seahawks cooler with beer, crab pots, a WSU Christmas tree, chairlift tickets to The Summit at Snoqualmie, Village Theatre tickets, tote bag filled with UW items, 5th Avenue Theater tickets, a trip on Argosy cruises and more.
In a departure from previous opening nights, a few items also were bid on at a live auction. Six wreaths and trees were sold, bringing in $4,150 just in that part of the program.
The bigger, fancier trees will be auctioned off at the black-tie gala Dec. 4. Themes of those include: Peanuts, pandas, Santa, stuffed animals and many more.
Hundreds of people also participated in a $25 a ticket drawing to win a night at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, with tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” at the Paramount.
John and Ellen Middleton are chairing the event this year. They thanked the Tulalip Tribes for hosting the event, allowing it to grow, and for the 60 volunteers.
Attendees watched a short video about the autism center for Providence that opened this fall. It explained how one in 68 children have some form of autism, and how the center helps prepare some of them for school and life.
“The small things mean the most,” said Straub, who has a relative with autism.
Rydzak and Friends provided the entertainment.
The entire event over the five days expects to bring in $650,000 from 3,000 people.
Arlington also has its Festival of Trees at Cascade Valley Hospital.
It starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with tickets only $10. A free open house takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6.
On Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., Santa will be at the hospital along with Anna, from Disney’s “Frozen.”
