PORT ANGELES — The Festival of Trees Gala auction made an estimated $115,000 Friday night for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the trees are on display today.
“It was one of our best years ever,” said Bruce Skinner, foundation executive director.
About 500 people attended the gala, surrounded by 51 trees decorated for Christmas.
“It was hard to get 500 in there with all the trees,” Skinner said. The Vern Burton Community Center at 308 E. Fourth St. “was bursting at the seams.”
Cranberry Christmas, designed by Molly Smith and sponsored by Rinehart Consulting, was the top auction tree at the gala, going for $5,500.
Its premium — premiums are special gifts attached to each decorated tree — was a moveable feast for eight involving four restaurants in downtown Port Angeles, and a porch bench donated by Brian Suslick.
Naturally Simple Christmas was selected by tree designers as the Designer’s Choice Award winner.
That tree was designed by James Brown, Jen Riffle, Betsy Schultz, Reath Ellefson and Sue Chance.
It was sponsored by Joseph’s Army, families and children of past and present Franklin MAC students, who also helped decorate the tree. Premiums were provided by the Captain Joseph House Foundation.
The 37 tall trees and four raffle trees, five silent auction trees, three Teddy Bear trees and two Family Day trees will be on view today, as they were on Saturday, during the last of two Family Days. Today Family Days is set from 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. today.
Admission is for $7 for adults.
Children younger than 12 are admitted free.
Elaborately decorated gingerbread houses are on display and entertainment abounds. Children will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa.
For more information, see the foundation’s website at omhf.org or call the foundation office at 360-417-7144.
Everly Prchal, 2, of Port Angeles looks around while eating a cookie during Friday’s Teddy Bear Tea, part of the Festival of Trees at Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The tea, which kicked off the three-day festival to benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, featured children’s entertainment, snacks and a visit from Santa. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
