A winter wonderland arrives Sunday in Jefferson City when the Goldschmidt Cancer Center will host the Festival of Trees fundraiser.
Celebrating its second year, the event brings holiday spirit to the center, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at 1432 Southwest Blvd.
Designers have been preparing a variety of trees, wreaths and decorations, which will be staged throughout the center, creating a menagerie for guests to explore and enjoy.
There are chances to buy the decorated items to display at homes or businesses.
Funds raised during the festival will support the life-saving mission of the center.
It will feature entertainment and live music, a children's workshop, a bake sale, special gifts for children and Healthy Schools/Healthy Communities-sponsored snacks.
Organizers are working behind the scenes to prepare for the event, but a 7-foot tree sponsored by Central Bank is on display at the Healthplex, within the center, said Rita Kempker, Capital Region Medical Foundation director.
For patients' safety and care - and possibly to retain some secrecy about the trees - the center will not begin to decorate the entire facility until Friday and Saturday, said Lindsay Huhman, Capital Region director of marketing and public relations.
Cost for general admission is $5 (cash only) at the door. Children 13 and younger may enter free of charge.
In 2018, because the festival culminated Nov. 11, it included a tribute to area veterans.
And last year, the festival raised $50,312 for the foundation, Kempker said.
This year, there will be a "Festival of Trees Sneak Tree-view" from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Huhman said. Casual cocktail attire is required. Those attending the event will be the first to experience the sights and sounds of the festival. They will enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine as they wander through the center.
And, they will be the first to get a chance to buy a tree or wreath.
The Saturday event is $100 per couple and $55 for individuals this year. To buy tickets, contact Kempker at [email protected].
The evening will feature a presentation by Jay Allen, a radiation oncologist at the center, and Diane Light, a general surgeon there.
The presentation, called "Early-Stage Breast Cancer is No Match for New Technology," is to begin at 7:30 p.m.