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The inaugural Christmas Tree Festival will be held the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving and will occur on the same weekend with future festivals. The town square is the venue across from the courthouse. The fence lining the square will have Christmas Trees decorated with lights only; no ornaments so that the trees can be judged by the public in the "Best of Show" contest and the trees will stay lit through New Year's day.

The festival is free to the public. What you will find are tree farmers where you can order your own family tree. They will be setting up their trees in such a way to compete for "Best of Show". The public will be able to vote on their favorite tree. There will be a nominal fee using QR codes to place a vote, and that is how we plan to raise some money that we will send to various non-profits in our area. The Fraser Fir Tree grower with the most votes wins this contest.

We have shuttle bus parking lots for those who have trouble navigating longer walks.

There are bounce houses, jugglers, stilt walkers, live music and magicians will perform on stage and will roam the crowd wooing them with their sleight of hand.

There will be tree growers, craft vendors, and food vendors. We plan on visitors taking in a festive supper on location, although there are many local restaurants ready to receive extra guests.

Exciting News!

Wolfthorne Cosplayers Club Will Join the Festival

The Wolfthorn Cosplayers Club is based in Marion, NC headed by manager Lucy Patton will be sending from six to sixteen cosplayers to get into character and mingle with the public.  “Cosplay is about being the characters and bringing them to life for other people to see and interact with. The smiles on people's faces and the way their eyes light up when they see a beloved character is its own brand of magic, and we thrive on it.” said Lucy Patton, the manager of Wolfthorne Cosplayers Club. 

Also, the Avery County Community Band will be starting off Saturday's schedule with an hour-long recital from the gazebo.  This band has a rather wholesome sound that pleases everyone in the family.

~ There is plenty of lodging in the area.
~ Not only are we the Fraser Fir tree capital of the world, but we are a tourist's destination with year round activities.
~ The ski slopes desire to open their runs by Thanksgiving.

We Are Partnering With Four Kinds of Vendors

I. - Tree Growers - Display one of your very best premiun #1, dense Fraser Fir trees - in the square.

LOOKING FOR FIFTY TOTAL PARTICIPATING FARMERS.  (28 July - 18 have signed up) to bring their winning tree.  Most of our tree farmers are coming from Allegheny, Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, & Yancey counties; all from western North Carolina, with some growers hailing from East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia are involved. Your obligation is to have your "pick of the litter" of trees and have it delivered to The Inn at Shady Lawn on Main Street. Our volunteers will set up the tree in the square and they will put lights on the tree. Once your delivery is complete, you can relax and enjoy the show.

II. Food Vendors - being in the presence of a good group of complimantary vendors makes for a great outing.

Come hungry and scratch the itch with vendors offering such delights as funnel cake, turkey drum sticks, kabobs, hamburgers and hot dogs. Food vendors, you need your own power and extension cords just like any other venue. Your booth will be placed on our food vendor's row close to where your storage vehicles park close by..

III. Craft Vendors - Holy Smokes! There are many fabulously talented artisans looking forward to our festival.

All juried; our craft vendors will be displaying their skills with pride and with the knowledge that they are the best of the best. Craft vendors are required to bring their own extension cords. Power will be available to all vendors. Craft vendors need to show up early and leave late.