Community members and city representatives watched Christmas trees light up, enjoyed baked goods, listened to Christmas carolers and more at the 2016 Apopka Festival of Trees opening ceremony, held in the City Hall lobby on Sunday, November 27.
Twenty Christmas trees from 19 entrants were exhibited, from the traditionally trimmed to the more uniquely decorated like “Star Wars” and cowboy western. One entrant entered two trees. Entrants were local businesses, civic organizations and artists.
Besides the Christmas trees, attendees also admired gingerbread houses and the holiday model-train village on display in the City Hall lobby.
Proceeds from the silent auction, in which participants use bid numbers as identification, will go to the Apopka Historical Society, the custodians of the Museum of the Apopkans.
Mayor Joe Kilsheimer led the tree lighting, and acknowledged the people and sponsors involved with the event including the Festival of Trees committee, which his wife Cheryl Kilshsimer leads. He announced upcoming city-arranged holiday events such as the Saturday, December 3, Holiday Bonfire, and the Sunday, December 4, Festival of Trees closing ceremony.
Christmas carolers are members of the AHA Players Apopka Community Theater.
Santa Claus visited City Hall and read “The Night Before Christmas” to children gathered around . Aunt Gingibread’s Bakery had a bake sale.
The trees will be on display at City Hall through Sunday, December 4, when they will be sold through a silent auction starting at 5:30 p.m. Interested bidders can sign up at each tree location in the City Hall atrium.
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