Zonta’s Festival of Trees kicks off with a Preview Party on Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will enjoy appetizers, beverages, entertainment by David Chown, drawings and the first opportunity to shop exquisite wreaths and holiday accessories. The festival and preview party are at Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings (1137 S Garfield Ave., Traverse City). Proceeds from the event fund grants that benefit the Traverse City community. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through MyNorthTickets.

Attendees will have the first opportunity to shop the Yuletide Emporium which features hundreds of unique holiday decor items and gift baskets. The TC Zonta Club is fortunate to have several designers as members who have worked all summer creating fantastic items that cannot be found anywhere else.

A new twist to this year’s event is the Community Challenge. Four local non-profits will create large tree displays and compete for public votes. Each non-profit keeps their voting revenue and the top vote-getter will receive a $500 bonus from Zonta. The four challengers this year are the Children’s Advocacy Center, Cherryland Humane Society, Father Fred Foundation and Old Town Playhouse.

Also new this year are different themes for each day (the festival runs Thursday thru Sunday—admission is free). On Treat Thursday, there is a free gift with any purchase all day. Foodie Friday features local food establishments offering free samples from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with keynote presenter Chef Chris Carey from the Golden Valley Country Club at noon. Other participants are Oryana, Fogarelli, NMC Culinary, Grand Traverse Pie Company, Edson’s Farms and Maxbauer’s Meat Market. Sensational Saturday brings crafts and holiday decorating demonstrations all day with Derek Woodruff presenting at noon. Santa Claus will make his first appearance in Traverse City on Santa Sunday. Bring your camera and get your holiday photo done early! Kids will enjoy free crafts and treats.

Zonta is an international organization that works to ensure every woman is literate, safe, healthy and equal. The club meets for lunch on the first and third Wednesday of the month, and meetings are open to the public. Details are at zontacluboftraversecity.org.


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