ROCKWALL, TX (Nov. 18, 2014) The Rockwall community officially geared up for the holiday season this past weekend through a couple of merry festivities at the Harbor which offered everything from a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and a Christmas tree lighting, to a Christmas tree festival put on by Rockwall County Helping Hands.
Helping Hands hosted its 5th Annual Festival of Trees inside the Hilton, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year featuring a Christmas tree decorating contest, dinner and live auction.
Local individuals, businesses, organizations and churches showed their support for Helping Hands by donating their beautifully-festooned trees and wreaths to be entered into the competition.
For an unbelievable fifth straight year in a row, Amy Hilton of Rockwall-Heath Early Childhood PTA came away with the grand prize “People’s Choice Award” for her trio of beautiful miniature trees.
AMICA of Rockwall took home the “Most Unique Tree” award for its winter wonderland-themed tree.
Bella’s House was awarded the “Most Traditional Tree,” while Expressions Home Décor & Custom Floral won the Judges’ Choice Award.
“Best Small Tree” went to the National Charity League Class of 2020 and its precious candy tree.
Worker Bee Studios – located in the downtown square – was the winner of this year’s Repurpose Challenge, which gave those who registered for the challenge a chance to take an item from Helping Hands’ Centsible Thrift Store and repurpose it to be sold during the festival.
A dinner was held at 7 p.m. following the festivities, where guests enjoyed a delicious meal, a live auction and dancing to some holiday music. The Boutique at Helping Hands turned the Hilton into a winter wonderland by offering hundreds of Christmas gifts and décor for locals to browse and purchase to their hearts’ content, and those who attended the dinner were also invited to continue shopping until 10 p.m. afterwards.
Executive Director of Rockwall County Helping Hands Margo Nielsen, who is retiring from her 25 years of dedicated and selfless service to the organization and to the low-income families throughout the county, said she believes the event will continue to be successful and bring holiday joy to the community for many years.
“The Festival of Trees is the most successful special event – outside our thrift store – that Helping Hands has hosted in my 25 years with the organization,” Margo said. “I think the festival will be a staple event in this community and will have a great run for a lot of years. The beautiful trees and wreaths make for a wonderful winter wonderland and holiday season for people, and I think they truly enjoy shopping the event, and coming to the dinner and the gala.
“Tonight’s auction was extremely successful and I was very flattered to have a dinner in my honor. The festival is a part of the community now and an event that will become a standard in the community for years to come.”
Visitors to the Harbor experienced even more holiday activities between 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Dodie the Mudbug of Dodie’s Cajun Diner wandered the Harbor with Dodie’s coupons inviting patrons to warm up with some hot Cajun food.
Kids enjoyed Choo Choo Express Rides, face paintings, a games area with prizes and a visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The Harbor’s giant Christmas tree was also lit up following all of the festivities at 8 p.m.
Story and photos by Blue Ribbon News staff writer and reporter Austin Wells.
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