Festival of Trees sees more participants in 2019

The Perry Festival of Trees Committee kicked off its third annual Festival of Trees event last Friday at the Perry Welcome Center. The event features businesses and organizations from across central Georgia that present decorated Christmas trees each year.

The event is also a competition with cash prizes for first, second and third place winners. Entrants can present wreaths, as well as trees. This year, the committee added a small trees contest. A record number of entrants were recorded this year according to committee member Ellie Loudermilk. “The first year we did this we had 15 trees. The second year, we had 17 trees and this year we have 19 trees plus five small trees.” Six wreaths and two tabletop arrangements were presented as well.

The winners will be announced Saturday, the last day of the festival. Loudermilk says the event’s purpose is to promote community involvement and interest. “I think we’ve done a pretty good job,” she said. “We saw the Festival of Trees in Gatlinburg, Tennessee four years ago and we thought it would be a good fit for Perry, Georgia.”

Loudermilk says this year’s trees are bursting with creativity, the most she’s ever seen. “It is just an amazing show.” Participants went the extra mile with handmade ornaments and individualist designs. The committee accepts entrants as early as August and applications are free. Trees cannot be taller than 7 ½ feet. Anyone interested in participating should contact the Perry Welcome Center at 478-988-8000. Festival hours are 8:30-5p.m.