Buttonwoods Museum's Festival of the Trees
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Dec 4, 2009 – Mom was planning to take my niece, Natalya, on their yearly holiday outing to see the Festival of the Trees at Buttonwoods Museum in Haverhill, MA. What in meow's name is a "tree festival" and how come I'm not going? I love trees…I try not to waste paper, would hug a tree if I could get my paws around one and….
Mom explained this was about Christmas trees and wreaths decorated by various individuals and organizations and showcased in the museum's rooms. People could purchase tickets and drop them in the boxes by each donated entry hoping to win that particular one once the festival had ended.
This sounded like fun so I donned my Santa hat and tied a jingle bell to my red Christmas collar as I readied to join them this year. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. And to think the two of them kept this a secret from me for the past five years. Or maybe I was napping in my window seat tuckered out from all my Christmas baking.
When you walk into the museum you're greeted with a brick floor, of course I'd notice this first, being only six inches above it and then as your eyes glance upward it's a "whoa kitty!" moment. Your eyes feast on luscious creations with twinkling white lights, colored lights, bright, shiny ornaments, and colorful ribbons, each tree or wreath sporting a different theme.
There were wreaths and trees with sports themes, kitchen, toy and pet themes, glitzy gold and silver ones, jewelry, silk and dried flowers, feathers, dolls, religious, modern style and old fashioned ones, Santa's and well, it was like a fairyland. Scouts, schools, churches, individuals and businesses had trees and wreaths featured. A few were anonymous donations.
We ran into the museum Curator, Janice Williams, a lovely lady who told us this was the eighth year the festival has been in existence. I thought she was tops because when we visited there were holiday munchies.
I weaseled some cash from mom to plunk some tickets in the boxes and think we should join the museum because it looks like a great place to spend time and I know we'd have fun helping to set all this up. I'd be willing to take charge of the goodies. I give this a five paw rating and recommend you stop by. The Festival runs until December 13th.
