Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) is spreading holiday cheer with the 2024 Festival of Trees, November 23 to noon on December 7. This year’s theme is “A Star Is Born.” Feel like a star on the runway walking among the decorated trees and wreaths in the elegant lobby and Great Room of the 11/30 Visitors Center.
Visitors can vote for their favorite tree or wreath and bid to take one home. A silent auction continues from the event’s opening and closing. All proceeds of voting and the auction will benefit the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. In 2023, funds raised topped $7000.
New in 2024 is the Salvation Army Hot Cocoa Stand during the Chambersburg Christmas Parade on November 23. The 11/30 Visitors Center will also host an Angel Tree and be a Red Kettle site.
Returning in 2024 is Sharing the Heart of the Holiday, which will be collecting items needed for a new homeless day center, opening in 2025. Items needed include hand sanitizer, socks, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, shoes, boots and backpacks.
Along with the festively decorated trees, and wreaths, Festival of Trees offers:
- Holiday train display, courtesy of Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club
- Old-fashioned Christmas programming in the video vault.
- Coloring contest for children with a first prize of $50 and three honorable mentions of $20.
- Kids holiday crafts.
- Letter-writing to Santa, followed by a reply from Santa.
- Chance to Win Small Business Saturday Goody Basket
- Cookies
- Visits from “The Grinch” – never know when he will show up!
Festival of Trees is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, except Thanksgiving Day and November 29. The Festival is open on Small Business Saturday, November 30 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Sunday hours are 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on November 24 and December 1. On Candle Night in downtown Chambersburg, December 6, Festival of Trees is open until 8 PM. The 11/30 Visitors Center will be serving special hot chocolate as part of the Annual Cocoa Crawl. Enjoy the sounds and smells of the holiday season and the glistening trees along Main Street.
The final day of Festival of Trees is Saturday, December 7, when online/email bids close at 10 AM. In person and phone bids continue until Festival of Trees closes at noon. Also, on December 7, enjoy the Christmas Markets on North Main Street, organized by Brussels Café.
Admission to Festival of Trees is free. Voting is four bids for $1. To view Festival of Trees, outside the regular hours, please contact FCVB at 717.552.2977 or 866.646.8060 to make an appointment. Visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com and follow Facebook.com/FCVBen for previews and more.
If you have questions, please contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 717.552.2977, or stop by the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, 15 South Main Street in Chambersburg.