Annual Methuen Festival of Trees Starts Nov. 18

METHUEN, MA — The 23rd Annual Methuen Festival of Trees is finally here and it’s going to be filled with Holiday wonder! This annual two week event kicks off with the 8th annual “Taste of the Festival” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, where guests will be treated to over 30 restaurants in the North Shore/Merrimack Valley area alongside special guest host and renowned foodie Steve DiFillippo, of DAVIO’s.

Tickets for this event are limited, but can be found at MethuenFestivalOfTrees.com.

This year’s Festival runs from Nov. 18, to Dec. 3 and we’ve added some new features! An Expanded Café: More choices and more places to enjoy a variety of refreshments including Beer and Wine! The Shops: An expanded gift shop with a new location to create an exciting collection of holiday decorations and gift ideas. New Mini-Tree Gallery: A completely redesigned, gallery style presentation of the breath-taking mini trees and wreaths. Santa At The Festival: Santa has graciously accepted our invitation to join us throughout the entire Festival. New Admission and Raffle Center: To make admission and raffle sales faster, we’ve moved our welcome kiosks to a convenient new location.

The 2016 Festival Hours: Weekdays, 5pm-9pm; Weekends 10am-9pm; Special Hours Wednesday November 23rd 12pm-9pm; Closed Thanksgiving Day; Friday November 25th 10am-9pm; Saturday December 3rd 10am-9pm; Tree Raffle at 9pm; Sunday December 4th Tree Pickup 12pm-4pm.

Admission: Everyday $10

Children 12 and under are always free.

Every year the Festival of Trees honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to preserving the history of the Merrimack Valley with its Preservation Award. This year’s recipients are The City of Methuen and Union Congregational Church Restoration and Preservation Alliance.

Earlier this year The Methuen Festival of Trees awarded a $1,000 Festival of Trees Scholarship each, to 4 deserving area students who had shown academic excellence but also volunteered during the Festival and participated in additional community services. This year’s scholarship winners were Methuen Nigh School graduates Catrina Crowe (attending Providence College); Evelina DelMonaco (attending UMass Dartmouth); Salvatore Florio, Jr. (attending UMass Lowell); and Northern Essex graduate Helen Shirpe (attending Salve Regina). Mann Orchards, was the honoree of the Special Friend of the Festival Award; Founded in 1877 by Charles Mann, Mann Orchards is the oldest business in Methuen, MA.

This year’s recipients were: First United Baptist Church, Lowell MA; Presentation of Mary, Methuen MA; First Baptist Church, Methuen, MA; Union Congregational Church, Amesbury, MA; Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, North Andover, MA; East Parish Meeting House, Haverhill, MA; The Searles School, Windham, NH; East Derry Village Improvement Society, East Derry, NH; First Church Congregational, Methuen, MA. “They gave us hope- the dollars and cents don’t mean as much as hope and that’s what the Festival has given to us.” – Spokesperson for the Union Congregational Church, Amesbury, MA.

Submitted by Kendra Petrone.