Dover, Ohio - Widely recognized as the kickoff to the holiday season in the Tuscarawas Valley, the annual Warther's Christmas Tree Festival opens this weekend for its 25th year of making memories.
The Silver Anniversary celebration begins this Saturday, November 10th, and continues through the following Sunday, November 18th, at the Warther’s Carvings Museum at 331 Karl Ave. in Dover.
During the event, dozens of beautifully decorated Christmas trees will be available for viewing. All the trees in the festival will also be available for purchase, along with many wreaths, holiday arrangements and the entire lobby display.
Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. except on the festival’s final day when it closes at 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under, and all tickets will be sold at the door.
In addition, a limited number of tickets remain available for the festival's Preview Party this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Preview Party attendees will receive a sneak peek at this year's trees and special ornament designed and handcrafted by Dan Warther (and sponsored by Toland-Herzig Funeral Home at Dover). They will also have an opportunity to participate in a fundraising auction of specially prepared cutlery, jewelry and furniture. Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 and can be purchased on the Auxiliary page on the hospital website at www.unionhospital.org, in person at Pam’s Posies in downtown Dover or by calling 330-340-5611.
The festival is one of the biggest and most important fundraisers of the year for the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Auxiliary. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the hospital for the purchase of patient care equipment and facility improvements.
Heading up the Christmas Tree Festival is founder and organizer Connie Finton of New Philadelphia, who says she's amazed at how the festival continues to grow every year.
“I had hoped back when we started the festival that it would last for a few years and be successful, but it has surpassed anything I ever dreamed about it,” she says.
Finton says the festival’s success is a tribute to the hard work of the members of the Auxiliary, the support of the sponsors and the thousands of people who come to see the trees and purchase them.
“People come up to me all year long with ideas, remembering their favorite tree, and offering support. Thank you to everyone, and we hope you will visit us this year to help us celebrate 25 years,” she says.
Finton says the Auxiliary is also grateful to the event's primary sponsor, Huntington Bank, and to its room sponsors including Dover Hydraulics, Parkway Auto Group and WTUZ Radio.
Additional highlights of the festival include Senior Day and the popular Children's Tree Decorating Workshops.
Senior Day is sponsored by The Inn at Northwood Village at Dover and will be held on Monday, November 12th. Individuals ages 60 and over will be admitted at half price to enjoy the trees and refreshments.
The Children’s Tree Decorating Workshops are sponsored by Hawk Family Dental Care at New Philadelphia and will be held on Saturday, November 17th. The workshops will at Warther's with sessions scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The cost is $25 per child and reservations are required. To reserve a space, and contact the Union Hospital Community Relations office at 330-364-0884.
Information about Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital and all of its services available to the community is available on the hospital website at www.unionhospital.org, and on the hospital’s pages on Facebook and Twitter (@Union_Hospital).