The annual ‘Festival of Trees’ will still be happening this year, however, it will look a little different.
The event is the biggest fundraiser for the Northern Lights Health Foundation, helping raise around $9 million for local health care over the past 30 years.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ladies Holiday Luncheon, Santa’s Workshop, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, Christmas Fun with Santa, the Daddy Daughter Sugar Plum Fairy Ball, and Gala won’t be held.
Instead, the NLHF is moving forward with 15 days of ‘Winter Wonderland’ where residents will still be able to bid on festive trees.
They will be set up at the Fort McMurray International Airport’s North Terminal from November 14 – 28 where residents can view them in groups of up to 50.
Interested individuals will have to register for specific time slots to ensure the exact number of people at the airport can be properly managed. The NLHF notes the space will, not only, be festive but will also abide by all COVID-19 measures.
While there, people will also be able to bid electronically on silent auction items, including the trees, and enjoy photo booths and raffles.
The annual auction will be held virtually on November 21 with the bids on each tree starting at the highest amount raised during the silent auction.
