The NWA Festival of the Trees: Kickoff Celebration marked a festive start to the holiday season and unfolded Friday Nov. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mount Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville.
The event featured an impressive showcase of decorated trees available for auction. Attendees were treated to an evening of holiday music, refreshing drinks and snacks, creating a merry ambiance to start the season.
“Festival of Trees is an event series. We are kicking it off tonight and then we will have a series of events throughout the next couple of weeks,” said Emily Gentry, the president and CEO for Mount Sequoyah Center. “We are celebrating our 100th anniversary this year.”
The display of festive trees provided an opportunity for families and friends to come together and celebrate while contributing to the historic preservation of Mount Sequoyah Center.
“The way that the Festival of Trees works is we find businesses and individuals who are generous enough to donate trees to Mount Sequoyah,” said Jessica DaBari, the organization development officer of Mount Sequoyah, “making Parker Hall this beautiful holiday wonderland for about a month leading up to the holidays.”
Gentry said can people come and bid on trees similar to a silent auction, and that money goes into supporting renovations at Mount Sequoyah. Small and large projects need to be done to contribute to the historic infrastructure. The proceeds from the event and others in the series aimed to ensure the continuation of Mount Sequoyah’s century-old legacy.
“Although it started out as a Methodist retreat center, it really was built out of the Chautauqua movement which was about bringing culture to rural America,” said DaBari, “Even though we are a non-profit now we still focus on that goal. We really want to continue to support the culture of Northwest Arkansas.”
DeBari explained the history of this center is rooted in commitment to the city and is dedicated to serving future generations. Over the years, the center has evolved into cultivating a dynamic and inclusive space that has become a distinguished part of the community.
“There is always something different at Mount Sequoyah,” Gentry said, “You never know what you are going to get.”
The Mount Sequoyah Center encourages the public to partake in the Festival of Trees Series, and wants participants to take advantage of the festive gathering while supporting the historical landmark.
For more information on the Festival of Trees Series and upcoming events, individuals can visit https://mountsequoyah.org