Festival seeks new home(s)

Andrew D. Brosig
Posted 9/9/20

Started in 2009, Gracie’s Promise has been helping families with children facing catastrophic medical needs for more than a decade.

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Festival seeks new home(s)

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TORRINGTON – Started in 2009, Gracie’s Promise has been helping families with children facing catastrophic medical needs for more than a decade.

And, every year for most of that 11 years, the bulk of the funding to support its mission has come from one source – the popular Festival of Trees around the holiday season each year. But, for the first time, Gracie’s Promise Festival of Trees finds itself without a home to display and auction off the decorated and donated trees that give the event its name.

Mary Hauser and other members of the Gracie’s Promise board came up with an idea and they’re reaching out into the community for help. While still just the seed of an idea, with nothing set in stone, the group is looking for local businesses who’d be willing to help by hosting a tree.

The businesses or other entities could secure a tree and decorate it however they wished, Hauser said. Then, during the festival, people would stop by the business, view the tree and, if interested, submit a bid on their favorite, she said. 

A limited number of trees may be available from Gracie’s Promise for businesses to set up and decorate. That, and how the bids would be taken, are just a couple of the items that are still somewhat up in the air early in the planning process.

“Instead of a central location, businesses could have one tree,” Hauser said. “This is the only fundraiser we’re able to have right now. We’ve got so many families depending on us.”

This is the 11th year for the Festival of Trees fundraiser and the idea is simple – groups, families, organizations and businesses secure a Christmas tree, select a theme and decorate it. Then, in the past, people would view the trees over about a two-week period and bid via silent auction format on their favorite. At the end of the festival, the ones who submitted the winning bid would be notified and they’d take the tree home to be their holiday centerpiece for the season. 

Last year’s festival featured a tree designed by celebrated artist Thomas Kinkade, who’s holiday-themed paintings and designs carry widespread recognition. Other trees last year were decorated with My Little Pony, golden butterflies and farming equipment, the ideas limited only by the imaginations of the designers.

In recent years, the Festival of Trees has grown to include a variety of decorations, from hand-made tree skirts to wall hangings to decorations and more.

“We want to keep the (Festival of Trees) alive for all the new people who are moving into the area who may not know about it,” Hauser said. “We want to keep it front and center.”