Waiting until after Thanksgiving to start celebrating Christmas — like never wearing white after Labor Day — is, happily, a thing of the past.
If you’re eager to get festive, join members of the Junior League of the Space Coast as they kick off this season with sparkle. The women’s service organization will host its 41st annual Festival of Trees from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Wickham Park Community Center, 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne.
Once a multi-day event, the Festival of Trees continues to be the organization’s signature fundraiser, but after COVID, it became a much smaller endeavor.
This year, Junior League president Anna Maria Curry said, the group is working to bring it back to its former glitter.
Artists, designers and League members have donated 19 full-size, decorated Christmas trees, which will be auctioned at the event. Also, raffle tickets will be sold for chances to win table-top trees and wreaths.
FLORIDA TODAY is donating a tabletop tree for sale during the charitable event. Tree decorations include handmade 4-by-6-inch ornaments featuring Senior Photographer Malcolm Denemark’s images of rocket launches and the April 2024 solar eclipse.
The winning bidder will also receive a one-year digital subscription and FLORIDA TODAY swag, including a classic license plate, champagne glasses, an umbrella and other logoed items.
In addition, guests can browse the wares of 30 to 40 local vendors and food trucks participating in the Holiday Market.
Kids can cook with Mrs. Claus, while her Ho-Ho-Ho Hubby, Santa, will available for photos.
“Families use the pictures for their annual Christmas cards,” League member Veronica Sinclair said. “One family has come for 24 years.”
New this year will be a VIP Lounge with a hot cocoa bar, children’s games and football on TV.
Admission to the Festival of Trees is a suggested donation of $10. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Registration is required, and guests can pre-register at spacecoast.jl.org/festival-of-trees.
Advancing the cause of community impact
Money raised will go to support community and organizations that align with the Association of Junior League International’s focus areas:
The League is looking for women 21 and older who are interested in furthering the organization’s mission of advancing “women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.”
Member recruitment used to take place only in the fall, but now women are invited to join year-round.
“We want to capture that interest when you’re ready,” Curry said.
Sinclair, a psychologist with Brevard Public Schools, said she joined this fall because she wanted to meet like-minded women and help to make her community better.
Today’s Junior League also has loosened the requirements for being a member in good standing. When the Junior League of the Space Coast (formerly the Junior League of South Brevard) began in 1965, only 39.3 % of women 16 to 64 were in the workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Members followed strict requirements for meeting attendance, volunteering and committee work.
Now, the percentage of women in the workforce has grown to 56.9 %, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“We have fewer requirements, with working women in mind,” Curry said. “You can be as involved as you’re able to be. Members have jobs, kids, families. We want to make the League fit everyone’s life.”
Suzy Leonard is a Brevard-based freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Get your sparkle on at Junior League of the Space Coast’s 41st annual Festival of Trees
Reporting by Suzy Leonard / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
