Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees opens Friday
The sixth annual Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees kicks off the holiday season at The Joe Center for the Arts with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. ET this Friday, Nov. 22.
Bring the whole family for an evening of viewing 28 beautiful Christmas trees and displays, enjoy holiday goodies, cider and hot chocolate and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Playwright Jerry Hurley, from the Panhandle Players, will share a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” and members of the Bay Area Choral Society will stroll through the gallery singing Christmas carols. Come and sing along and get in the holiday spirit.
Everyone is invited to vote for their favorite tree and go on a scavenger hunt to find objects hiding in different displays. Elf hats will be given out to the first 18 kids (age 15 and under) that arrive at the opening. A variety of items in the silent auction will take care of that special person on the “nice” list.
Be sure to also join us on Dec.. 12 for “Jingle at the Joe” from 6 to 8 p.m. to enjoy special music from Chris Godber, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the announcement of the People’s Choice for Best Holiday Display. At this close of the silent auction, the name will be drawn of the lucky winner in the “Jingle” drawing of a 50” LED Smart TV and other special items.
Marcy Trahan, chair of Toe Center for the Arts, extended thanks to the sponsors for their generous support of the Festival and the center’s mission to educate, exhibit, partner and inspire through the arts. They included Festival Partners – Capital City Bank, Dr. Joshua James, Dr. Rachel Bixler, Lions Club of PSJ, Sand Dollar Café, and Tyndall Federal Credit Union; Candy Cane Lane Sponsor: Farnsley Wealth Management; Festival Contributors – Hannon Insurance Agency, MB Engineering, and St. Joe Hardware; and Festival Supporters – Beach Realty of Cape San Blas, No Name Books & Gifts, Nancy Swider, and Duren’s Piggly Wiggly.
The Festival of Trees runs from Nov. 22 through Dec. 14. Hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except Saturday, Nov. 23, open until 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 27, until 3 p.m.); and Sundays Noon to 4 p.m. Closed Nov. 28-29.
The Joe Center for the Arts is at 201 Reid Ave. in Port St. Joe. For more information contact: info@thejoecenter.org
Festival of Trees Schedule
Friday, Nov. 22: 5 to 7 p.m. Opening and Family Reception, Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Reading of ‘The Night Before Christmas,” Carols with Bay Area Choral Society
Saturday, Nov. 23: 11 to 1 p.m.: Visit and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Saturday, Nov. 30: 1 to 2 p.m. A free snowball fight for kids. Come hear a snowy story and have a fun snowball fight. 2 to 4 p.m. Visit and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Wednesday, Dec. 4: 3 to 5 p.m. Visit and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus
6:30 to 8 p.m. Alcohol Ink Ornaments (Limit 12, fee. Register at www.thejoecenter.org
Thursday, Dec. 5: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. “Florida Snowmen and Snow-Bunnies” ornaments with Jenny Tompkins. $5 fee. Register and pay at front desk.
Friday, Dec. 6: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Cupcake Decorating with Bayside Bakery. Drop in and decorate a yummy cupcake. $5 donation. 5 to 7 p.m. First Friday Sip and Shop: Christmas Storytelling with Robyn Rennick, live Christmas centerpiece drawing, created by Cathy Hanna, visit and DIY photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate bar and treats
Saturday, Dec. 7: 2 to 4 p.m. Quilted star ornaments with Cheryl Ploegstra, free. 6 to 9 p.m. A Christmas Gnome Paint and Sip with Mel Elum (Register at ww.thejoecenter.org)
Sunday, Dec. 8: 2 to 3 p.m. Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Choir sings spirituals, 3 to 4 p.m. Vision Inspired Praises (VIP) Choir sings spirituals
Wednesday, Dec. 11: 1 to 3 p.m. Holiday crafts for everyone! Come make a snow-globe, an Ombre Christmas tree or paint a Gnome or Gingerbread person. $5 donation per project. 4:30 to 6 p.m. Ukulele Orchestra of the Forgotten Coast – Enjoy holiday music with a Hawaiian flair
Thursday, Dec. 12: 6 to 8 p.m. Jingle at The Joe. Live music by Chris Godber. Visit and DYI photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, special drawings and silent auction closes 7:30 p.m. Announcement of People’s Choice Winner
Friday, Dec. 13: 1 to 3:30 p.m. “Bursting with Joy,” create a 3-D winter scene with Cindy Miniat. Fee, Register at www.thejoecenter.org
Saturday, Dec. 14: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last chance to see all the holiday displays, 2 to 4 p.m. Visit and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 4 p.m. Festival closes
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.