County’s first Festival of Trees starts today

By CLARA CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Columbus County’s first Festival of Trees to benefit the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center that will serve Columbus, Bladen and Brunswick counties will be held this weekend at the N.C. Museum of Forestry on Madison Street in Whiteville.

The festival opened at 9 a.m. today and is featuring a full schedule of entertainment from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. There are more than two dozen beautifully decorated trees to view, homemade goodies and handmade items, including Christmas wreaths, for sale, and Santa Claus to talk with the children. Admission is $5. The dessert café will be open throughout the festival offering home baked cakes, pies and other desserts, along with coffee and milk.

In addition, there will be a bake sale for people to buy whole cakes, pies and other goodies to take home for the holidays.

A majority of the profits from the Festival of Trees will help fund the Hospice House that will be built off Warrior Trail in Whiteville. The public is encouraged to attend and support the Festival of Trees, which will help the hospice center effort.

A schedule of entertainment is on page 8-A.

Rhonda Dutton, entertainment chairman for the festival, said there are still a few slots open and anyone who is interested in entertaining during those times is urged to contact her at work, 642-4116 ext. 239 or at home, 642-5069.