The customized, festive trees will be on display at the center as of Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and from 4-8 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. -8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD—It’s called a “feztival” because the sponsors, the Melha Shriners wear those flat-topped conical hats.
But the Feztival is all about something else with a rather conical shape: Christmas trees.
The second annual Shriners’ Feztival of Trees will take place Nov. 23 through Dec. 2 at the Melha Shrine Center, 133 Longhill St., Springfield.
The customized, festive trees will be on display at the center as of Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and from 4-8 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. -8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
In addition to the display of trees there will be a craft fair, entertainment and refreshments. Photographs with with Santa will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend and Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend.
There will be about 40 trees on display with a variety of themes including a circus theme that pairs four tickets to the Shriner’s spring circus with the tree.
Businesses, individuals and the Shriners donate the new trees that are fully decorated.
“When people come in and see the trees set up in such a beautiful display, they are amazed at how wonderful it looks,” said William J. Faust, assistant rabban for the Melha Shriners and chair of the festival. “It’s a fun thing for the whole family to do.”
Trees range in size from about four feet to seven feet.
Admission is $2 per person, with no charge for children under 12. All proceeds will benefit the Melha Shrine Center to assist the organization in continuing its various activities in the communities in which members live, work and raise their families.
Last year the festival raised $4,500.
All the artificial trees—their decorations and anything that accompanies them-- will be included in a raffle, the drawing for which will take place on Sunday, Dec. 2, at the end of the event.
Raffle tickets are $5 for 15.
"The best way to attract attention to an individual tree is to be creative and reflect your personality or the type of business you have; showing your business logo with unique ornaments or other décor of your choosing is highly encouraged,” said Melha Shriner Al Zippin.
For more information about the feztival, call (413) 786-1272, (413) 246-8958 or (413) 736-3647.
Shriners International is a philanthropic fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.
With some 325,000 members in 194 temples in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and the Republic of Panama the fraternity is open to men of integrity from all walks of life.
More information about Shriners International is available at www.shrinershq.org or www.melhashriners.com.