LIMA — The Christmas tree is a tradition of the holiday season, and for Lima, the Christmas Tree Festival has become a familiar part of local holiday celebrations, with the event now in its 43rd year and running through Sunday.
The festival is co-sponsored by the Allen County Historical Society, Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District and Church Women United, with all proceeds from the festival split evenly between them. This year, 85 decorated trees were submitted by various businesses, churches, agencies and organizations in the Lima area, each uniquely decorated to celebrate “The Majesty of Christmas,” the theme for this year’s festival.
For Marty Hutchison, chairwoman of the festival’s planning committee, the festival has a symbiotic relationship with its host venue.
“We get 8,000 people coming in here, and many of them may not have been to the museum before,” she said. “We often hear people say, ‘I had no idea that we had this treasure. I’ll come again to see it.’ It’s a perfect background for the festival itself. The addition has made a huge difference.”
Other attractions at the festival include historical re-enactments at the log house, ornament making for children, tours of the MacDonell House and “Evergreen” the talking tree. Live music performances are also held throughout the festival, with school choirs, piano teachers and students and other local musicians performing songs of the season.
While the largest crowds come to the festival on the weekend, having the festival late in the week gives other groups the opportunity to enjoy the festival.
“These are times when the nursing homes can bring people and other organizations can bring people,” Hutchison said. “We also have preschools and day cares that come in during the day.”
Hours for this year’s festival are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
While a great deal of work goes into putting the festival together every year, the rewards are worth it, according to Hutchison.
“When people have done it from the beginning, they keep coming back almost every year,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding to seeing a family coming through and seeing the looks on children’s faces.”
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