Festival of Trees 2017

So there's this thing here in the Salt Lake area that I've been hearing about for years now- Festival of Trees.  It's put on by Intermountain Healthcare and if I understand correctly all the proceeds to go charity to help patients.  I think it might've even been specific to children, I'm not positive though.  Turns out it's humongous and AMAZING.  There were hundreds and hundreds of decorated Christmas trees, immaculately designed gingerbread houses, a holiday wreath display, beautifully detailed quilts, a kids corner, and two stages on opposite sides of the 'room' (it was more like 3 football fields) where there were singing and dancing performances, kids and adults, going on throughout the whole thing.  

We only got through maybe about 1/3 of the room!

sneak peak for you...keep reading for more pictures!

It is done at the beginning of the month because people can buy the trees for their own homes and contribute more to the cause in that way.  

One of the best things about it is that several of the trees were done by families as tributes to a child or other loved on who had passed away.  Those ones were touching and made me a little teary and very reflective.

It was all so impressive and so full of all things Christmas.  

We loved it!

Somebody come visit us beginning of December next year so we can take you!

Some of our favorites things we saw:

(prepare to be impressed)

The book tree.  a tree for perfect for my grandpa.

i always loved the story of sadako and the thousand paper cranes!

family history picture tree

moana tree

moana tree

up tree

the 'witchy' tree.
ever since halloween hannah has loved witches-
 i think it's mainly because of princess sofia's witch friend lucinda in the show.
  hannah has two witch costumes she loves and would wear everywhere if she could.  she was very excited about this tree and decided it was for her.

great british baking show 'tree!'

little girl's dream tree...and then some.  as you went on the trees started becoming whole room scenes

andrew's favorite were any of the BYU trees/scenes.  and there were several

the mary poppins tree.  i loved the chalk drawings!  there were also mary poppins and bert's outfits there

i think this was the agreed upon family favorite.  i can't believe i didn't get a picture of the whole display.  but the carriage was the real reason we loved it so that was the most important thing to get a picture of.  is that thing not beautiful?

Okay these next ones are GINGERBREAD "HOUSES" people.  My British Bake Off expectations are A LOT higher now!!!

barton cottage!!!!!

moana gingerbread scene

disney castle with all the princesses and some other characters.  LIKE HOW IS THIS MADE OF GINGERBREAD???

the death star gingerbread house- we took a picture for you julia!  if i could i would make one and give it to you for christmas 

slc temple and look at that beauty and the beast scene!  how could that be gingerbread?

see the grinch with the sleigh on the whoville mountain?

some of the beautiful quilts

this was my favorite quilt.  

People are so incredibly talented!  We never made it to the Kids Corner (which was basically 1/4 of the huge room so not really a corner) and we didn't treat ourselves to any of the Christmas-y refreshments and treats you could buy, so we will be more prepared next year!  It was an awesome event, one we will definitely be coming back to!