AT HOME Victoria’s Editor-in-Chief, Tracey Drake, sits on the committee that organizes the Festival of Trees Victoria in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, benefitting sick kids on Vancouver Island.
The big event was yesterday and now, the Fairmont Empress is overflowing with holiday spirit – more than 70 trees on display – each a beacon of #gratitude. Local companies sponsor the tree financially, and then show up to decorate it on gala night.
Our sister publication, NICHE magazine, is a gold tree sponsor, and this year, the holiday tree was themed DECK THE HEELS. In true community spirit, NICHE invited clients and community members to make a donation to decorate a shoe and each of the heels are now on display on the NICHE tree, in the lobby outside the Bengal Lounge.
ABOUT FESTIVAL OF TREES
Every year, Victoria Festival of Trees transforms The Fairmont Empress into a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Sponsors, local businesses, organizations and individuals of this event come together and decorate trees – in a sometimes wacky, often irreverent and always beautiful fashion.
The event is open to the public seven days a week until 11:00pm every night from the end of November to the beginning of January. There is no admission cost, but they suggest a minimum $2.00 donation to vote for your favourite tree.
Last year, the 2013 Victoria Festival of Trees raised over $205,400 in support of the urgent needs at BC Children’s Hospital. More than 20,000 votes were cast for the 73 beautifully decorated trees during the seven weeks at The Fairmont.