Silver bells have a double meaning at The Baby Fold's Festival of Trees this year. The organization is celebrating 25 years of the popular holiday fundraiser.
The family-centered community event takes place Friday through Sunday at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The festival raises funds for the children and families served by The Baby Fold as it offers a wide variety of holiday décor to bid on or to buy.
Over 10,000 people are expected to attend The Baby Fold's Festival of Trees, said Aimee Beam, vice president of development and public relations at The Baby Fold. And although the festival is full of fun activities for all ages and stunning holiday décor, Bean revealed there’s a compelling reason why so many people attend every year.
“It really is more about the kids and families that we serve and the way that people feel about The Baby Fold than it is about trees. They understand that this is the way to support us and also something nice that we can do to give back to the community," she said.
“The Baby Fold is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being of children. We have about a dozen programs that help about 1,200 local kids every year. And I think people, even if they don’t know exactly the scope of what we do, they understand that we’re helping and that by impacting children’s lives, we’re impacting the future of the whole community.”
The Festival features decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces.
“It’s like you’re stepping into a winter wonderland,” Beam explained. “We call it The Enchanted Forest. There’s the smell of cookies and gingerbread and our food vendors so you can get a bite to eat. You can get hot chocolate and coffee and walk around and see the sights. Plus, we have music and entertainment going on the mainstage all weekend long.”
The Festival of Trees opens Friday.
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