Vacaville Festival of Trees
Each November, the Vacaville Festival of Trees springs up in support of Opportunity House, a Vacaville nonprofit that offers transitional and alternative housing, support services, mentorship and volunteer programs.
The week after Thanksgiving, the Vacaville Skating Center on Davis Street became a glowing gallery with 50 decorated, full-size Christmas trees plus another 50 tabletop mini-trees. The trees were sold to the highest bidders at a pre-opening gala and throughout the festival.
One of the trees in the 2018 festival was created by Paradise Valley Estates residents Pat Williams and Yuriko McKenna. The design — called “Doggone It: Christmas Already!” sold at the event’s pre-opening gala, the night before the festival opened. It was one of the first trees sold. “We went in Tuesday to morning to have a look and saw that it sold for $600.00,” says Williams. “We were very pleased!”
Williams says the tree ornaments were handmade puppies created using brown, black and gray flannel cloths to go along with the event’s theme, “Flannel & Frost.” The women completed the tree with other holiday items plus one extra bit of whimsy: a cat stuffed animal.
The festival has raised more than $2.1 million since it began in 1991. This is the first year Paradise Valley Estates residents have participated in the holiday event. After their creative success, it likely won’t be the last. Congratulations, Pat and Yuriko!
