Several types of Christmas trees, ranging from traditional to pop culture influenced can be seen at the Festival of Trees.
This Star Wars-inspired tree shows what can be done with more modern and pop culture oriented influences.
The halls are decked and the trees are decorated for YWCA of Sweetwater County's annual Festival of Trees.
The yearly fundraiser, which includes the auction of holiday decor and fully decorated Christmas trees, is back this year with an in-person event next week after having to be conducted mostly virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was very weird," YWCA Executive Director Melinda Baas said, thinking back to last year's online festival. "This was the event we missed. We missed the in-person gathering. . .it was one of our more fun events, because it ends in a big party."
The big party is back this year, but some elements from last year remain since they ended up working well. Namely, the silent auction - which is for all Christmas decor items including wreaths and gift baskets - will be conducted through the app and website used last year. This means decor can be bid on whether or not people visit the festival in person.
Baas still encourages people to stop by Commerce Bank in Rock Springs where the trees and decor will be on display all week.
"I always think it's a great idea to come down, look at everything, find the things you like," Baas said. Once you know what decor items you want, you can bid on the website or app, which will give updates on bids, Baas explained.
To take home one of the decorated trees, however, requires bidding on the tree during the live auction next Thursday. Baas noted it may be possible for someone who can't attend in-person but is still interested in the tree auction to contact the YWCA and arrange having a phone bidder.
This year's festival features 16 Christmas trees and roughly 50 decor items. Trees range from traditional decorations and themes to creative and fun concepts like the "Santa on vacation" tree with a beach theme and the "Star Wars"-themed "Merry the Force be with you" tree.
Anyone who visits Commerce Bank to see the trees this week or during the live auction can vote for their favorite tree to win the "People's Choice Award." This year there is also a second competition between two local auto dealers competing to see which tree is more popular.
Another new feature this year is a tree put together by the YWCA called the "Give a gift, take a gift" tree. The tree is covered in and surrounded by Christmas items which anyone who donates to the YWCA can take.
"Make a donation of any amount you want - a dollar, $15, $10, $4, whatever, and you can take an item off the tree," Baas explained. "It's also kind of like a little Santa's helper, so if you need an ornament or you need a star or you need some gift card boxes, any item like that, you can just pull them off the tree, make a quick donation, and it's yours."
In addition to the live auction, next Thursday's event will feature food, a bar and music. Baas encourages everyone to stop by "just to get to see a big Christmas party" that's fun and casual.
"It's just one of those things that just gets you in the Christmas spirit when you come walking in here and see all the trees," Baas said.
The annual Festival of Trees, which is one of the biggest fundraisers the YWCA does each year, is an important way to let the community know about the YWCA and to fund the services the organization provides, according to Baas.
"It benefits all the programs of the Y," she said, explaining raising funds allows the YWCA to put the money toward whatever program needs it most.
"I will say, this year has been tougher even than 2020," Baas said. "2020 was more confusing - it was just so many changes. . . but we didn't get overwhelmed."
This year has included more challenges than last year, according to Baas, including having to replace large numbers of staff and the domestic violence program dealing with a full shelter almost all year. Having the extra funds brought in by the Festival of Trees will allow the YWCA to address these extra challenges and help the programs with the biggest needs. The festival also adds an extra note of hope to end the year on.
The Festival of Trees runs all this week, with all the Christmas trees and holiday decor available for viewing at Commerce Bank in Rock Springs during normal business hours. Silent auction bidding can be done online all week at aesbid.org/ywcatree21. Kids can visit Santa at the festival Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The live auction event begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 2.
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