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Date: 11/17/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Year after year, the Festival of Trees fills its space with a variety of holiday decor, lights and entertainment, and this year, the 23rd annual festival is expected to be bigger and better than ever.
Presented by the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, the Festival of Trees is set to return to the MassMutual Center from Nov. 24 to Dec. 10.
According to the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield Marketing Director Sarah Gumaer, all the trees are donated, primarily by businesses, organizations, families. People donate by registering for free online, a process that opened in September. The donors are responsible for supplying everything for the tree. Gumaer said the trees typically range anywhere between $200 and $2,000.
At press time, Gumaer said 137 trees had been donated, just shy of the 140-tree maximum that can fit in the space.
During the festival, there is a tree raffle. For $10, an individual will receive 15 tickets to be placed in the raffle box next to their favorite trees. Once the festival is over, the tickets are pulled and the winner receives everything on the tree and under it, Gumaer shared.
There is also a 50/50 raffle which is based on the $5 tickets people pay to enter. The final amount distributed will be after 5% raffle tax, with exactly half of the remaining amount being awarded.
On the weekends of the festival, Santa will be there to visit with children.
Gumaer noted that there is also a Santa store with holiday trinkets that is open whenever the festival is.
On opening day, Nov. 24, there is free admission. Also on that day, comedy juggler Bryson Lang will perform at noon, along with magician and illusionist David Garrity performing at 1:30 p.m.
On Nov. 25, Floyd Patterson’s Band will perform at 5 p.m.
Gumaer said there will also be some local school choirs and dance groups performing during the festival, among other entertainment. A protracted list can be found online, sbgc.org/fot.
The festival hours are Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Santa’s hours on opening day are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m.
General admission is $5. For seniors, it costs $4, and children 12 and under are free. In addition, active military, veterans, first responders and their families have free admission by showing identification, courtesy of AT&T
There is free parking for the event in the MGM Springfield parking garage, along with a free shuttle, “The Polar Express,” between MGM and the Festival of Trees.
The Festival of Trees is the largest fundraising event hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield. Gumaer explained that all proceeds benefit the club, the children it serves, and its programs offered.
Last year, the festival raised about $340,000. Gumaer said each year they strive to do better.
On average, the event attracts about 20,000 visitors. Gumaer said this is because, “We like to say, ‘We bring the magic.’”
She went on to describe it as a family-friendly holiday event that brings people together for a good cause.
Gumaer explained that the club brings this to the community and in turn, the community is giving back to the children in the city of Springfield.
She noted that the MassMutual Center is a prime location for this event, as people can come and see the trees and then go to dinner downtown or visit other nearby attractions. For instance, she said there are four home Thunderbirds games during the festival. For anyone who purchases a ticket to the game, they receive free admission to the festival.
Similarly, the MassMutual Center is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Nov. 25. Guests who purchase a ticket to the breakfast are also allowed free admission to the festival.
“[We] try to work with the community as much as possible,” Gumaer said.
The Festival of Trees is sponsored by Berkshire Bank and opening day is sponsored by Eastman Chemical.
For additional information on the Festival of Trees, visit sbgc.org/fot.