PHILLIPS — Holiday cheer filled Phillips on Dec. 14 as families braved a crisp, 20-degree day for a festive celebration featuring crafts, treats, and the 2nd Annual Festival of Trees and Cake Walk.
At the Phillips Area Community Center [PACC], children crafted ornaments, snacked on popcorn bags with surprise bags of hidden Oreo treats, and settled in to watch Frosty the Snowman on the big screen set up on stage. Small fires outside added warmth along walking paths as families moved between activities and events throughout the community.
Children participated in a punch card adventure, gathering stamps at stations before redeeming their completed cards for holiday treats at “Candyland,” hosted at Susy Sander’s house. Inside, children wrote letters to Santa, with one parent encouraging their child to share their favorite interests instead of listing specific gifts.
At the Phillips Public Library, the Festival of Trees featured uniquely decorated trees raffled off to lucky winners. Themes included a camping-themed tree with outdoor gear, a quilt-covered tree, a tree adorned with first aid kits and small bottles of money, and a sparkling pink “Candyland” tree. A tree featuring sleds and wagons and another showcasing books and school supplies also captured attention.
The library also hosted a festive cake walk in its studio, where attendees purchased $1 tickets for a chance to win baked goods. Any leftover tickets could be used for the tree raffle.
Organizer Sandy Wilbur expressed her gratitude for the community’s involvement, writing on Facebook, “A giant humongous thank you to all who donated, participated, and won. How awesome you all are has no words.”
The day’s events brought families together, showcasing community creativity and leaving lasting memories of a day filled with holiday spirit and winter charm.
