RUMFORD — The Rumford Performing Arts Committee will host the sixth annual Festival of Trees at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in the Rumford Falls Auditorium.

Jim Rinaldo, chairman of the Rumford Performing Arts Committee, said that ever since the organization started making the event free to the public, it’s become “more popular than ever.”

“When you have so many people in the auditorium that the overflow spills onto the balcony, you know you have a full house,” Rinaldo said. “It’s a great community effort, and a fun night for families to experience.”

Rinaldo said 17 groups applied to set up and decorate a tree for the festival last year.

“This year, we’ve got a lot of applications out there, and we’re going to figure out this week who’s interested,” he said. “It’s hard to tell how many trees we’ll get until it gets closer, but we’re hoping for at least 16.”

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Rinaldo said children will have the chance to visit with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Frosty the Snowman before the show, and each child will receive a small gift.

The show will feature performances from local musicians, including the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts, Thea Dunn and the Prop Box Singers, Andy St. Pierre, Melanie Jordan, Tammy Burgess and Elaine Michaud.

“It’s going to be a good show this year,” Rinaldo said. “My wife’s been making cookies for a week and a half, and we have another volunteer making cookies. We should have 25 to 30 dozen cookies by the time the show happens, along with free hot chocolate.

Admission is free, though donations are appreciated, he said.

“We have a lot of volunteers here paying for things out of their pocket, so even a small amount, like 25 or 50 cents, is a huge help,” Rinaldo said. “Anything that helps us put on a better show next year.”

For more information, call Rinaldo at 418-9067.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

 

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