Missoula Festival Of Trees Extends Throughout Downtown And Pivots Event Auction To Community Raffle Festival Slated to Open November 27
Local Media
November 9, 2020
MISSOULA FESTIVAL OF TREES EXTENDS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN
AND PIVOTS EVENT AUCTION TO COMMUNITY RAFFLE
Festival Slated to Open November 27
With a focus on community health and inclusivity, the Downtown Missoula Partnership has pivoted the 2020 Festival of Trees to a multi-space, multi-day Tour of Trees with opportunities to win one of 10 designer-decorated trees this holiday season. Starting Friday, Nov. 27 and for 10 consecutive days, all are invited to the admission-free Tour of Trees, featuring nine Downtown businesses showcasing beautiful Christmas Trees and holiday packages valued at $1,000 each.
With significant support from Stockman Bank, the Festival of Trees will be open to the public starting at 10 am on Black Friday and will be the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season in Downtown. The Festival of Trees will also align with the rollout of the new holiday lighting features, funded by the Downtown Missoula Partnership.
Ten designer-decorated trees will be located at these nine Downtown locations:
- Worden’s Market
- Bike & Type
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Liquid Planet
- Mood Boutique
- One Eleven
- Residence Inn at the Merc
- Mary’s Mountain Cookies
- Bitterroot Flower Shop
Low-cost raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win one of the trees, and funds raised will support the Missoula Downtown Foundation’s Spirit of Place campaign, dedicated to finishing the Missoula Legacy Trail, Downtown information kiosks, and additional beatification projects. Tickets range from $2-$3 each, depending on the number purchased.
Many of the trees will be viewable from outside of the businesses, and all of the hosts will have COVID-safe protocols in place, including required distancing of six feet, face coverings, and increased sanitization protocols. Public viewing of the trees is available during business hours from Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Dec. 6, and everyone is encouraged to stay in small groups with their current close contacts.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at all of the tree locations and the Downtown Missoula Partnership office through December 6. Tree winners will be announced and trees will be delivered to the winners on Monday, Dec. 7.
This year instead of hosting four Teddy Bear Teas at a single location, the Downtown Missoula Partnership will have Teddy Bear Tea Kits for families to take home and enjoy. Available for sale online or in person for $10 each, Teddy Bear Tea Kits will feature a creative art project, cookies and beverages to make, and a variety of fun items for children to enjoy with their families.
The Festival of Trees will coincide with Downtown Missoula’s other holiday season celebrations: Shop Small Saturday Kickoff Nov. 28 and the Parade of Lights Dec. 5.
“Our planning committee has been incredibly creative in modifying the Festival of Trees for a safer and more accessible environment, and we are incredibly grateful to Stockman Bank for supporting the festival and the changes we have put forth,” said Linda McCarthy, Executive Director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership. “We are also super grateful for the design teams and the Downtown businesses that offered to host the trees this year.”
The Missoula Festival of Trees was created in 1999 by Mountain Home Montana and gifted to the Downtown Missoula Partnership in 2017. Funds generated from the festival are invested in Downtown projects and programs, including place-making projects, planning efforts and the Downtown Business Support Fund.
More information on the upcoming festival can be found online at www.missouladowntown.com or by contacting the Downtown Missoula Partnership office via phone (406-543-4238) or email ([email protected]).
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