Festival of Trees starts today at Otto’s Oasis

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Still feeling a little stuffed after those extra helpings of that turkey dinner put a dent in your waistline?

No worries.

The Festival of Trees in Charles City is your quick cure for that post-Thanksgiving food hangover.

The holiday spirit and cheer of Christmas will shift into overdrive this morning as the the annual Festival of Trees starts at 8 a.m. at Otto’s Oasis. The floral shop and greenhouse has hosted the holiday Christmas event since 2008, in cooperation with the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event.

Decorated Christmas trees from 14 different non-profit groups or organizations will be on display in Otto’s Oasis’ greenhouse during regular business hours – Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, holiday revelevers can gaze and witness the beauty of the festive trees from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Non-profit organizations in the area set up trees. It’s a fundraiser for their groups – money-wise and also to make people aware of what they do,” said Otto’s Oasis owner Lori Otto.

The festival lasts for five weeks with weekly prize winners being drawn on Festive Friday’s leading up to Christmas. It culminates on Saturday, December 29. All entries will be eligible for a chamber cash drawing at the end of the event.

Visitors can take part in a scavenger hunt this year. Answers to the hunt can be found among the unique and brightly colored trees.

“We’re going to do like a little scavenger hunt and have people look for something in the tree to win a prize from us,” said Otto. “It’s a little easier than what we did last year.”

The public can also contribute to their favorite causes by placing monetary donations in containers under each tree.

“People vote for their favorite tree by placing donations into buckets around the tree,” said Otto.

The tree that garners the most in-monetary donations will win the “Outstanding Tree Award” and an additional $50 for their organization.

Those groups or organizations that are participating in the 2018 Festival of Trees are Trinity United Methodist Church Youth, TLC: The Learning Center, Fossil Prairie Center, PAWS, Humane Society, Comprehensive Systems, and Central Preschool. Other groups involved are the Charles City Arts Center, St. John Christian Preschool, American Legion Auxiliary, CCPL Friends of the Library, Hope for Life Pregnancy Center, Floyd County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Immaculate Conception School/Preschool, and Lost Llamas 4H Club.