With Halloween “boo”-hind us and Thanksgiving just a few weeks and grocery store runs away, the holiday season is upon us. In addition to a time of cooler weather and happy get togethers, it’s time for Hilton Head Preparatory School’s annual Festival of Trees.
“Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Festival of Trees has been an island favorite for more than 30 years,” said Leslie Hart, director of the Prep Pride Fund and Alumni Relations. “I know many people who like to come and enjoy the festival after a big Thanksgiving celebration with their families. It is one of the island’s largest holiday-themed festivals.”
Every year, the festival is held in a public location so that guests to the island and locals alike can attend and get in the holiday spirit. This year the Festival will be held at the Marriott Hilton Head Resort and Spa in Palmetto Dunes.
Mame Bowser and her husband have been attending the festival for several years. “We’ve gone with family, friends and just ourselves. The event is always fun. We typically get a cocktail, walk around, enjoy the trees, and bump into people we know,” Bowser said. “It’s a nice start to the Christmas season, and the amount of effort, time and talent that goes into decorating is quite impressive. In fact, I’m the proud owner of a tabletop wine tree. My tree is decorated with fake grapes, wine glasses, corkscrews, corks and other wine-related paraphernalia.”
Each year the festival offers around 170 trees, wreaths, and other holiday decor items that are made by local businesses, organizations, artists and of course each grade level at Hilton Head Preparatory School. “I would say if you want to buy a tree, you will want to go to the first night,” Bowser said. “The good ones get scooped up quickly. The creativity and originality really is very impressive. Our community has some very talented people.”
Some people also enjoy the event remotely, Hart explained. “Because of COVID, we had to start thinking of ways that people could enjoy the festival virtually. I sat down, and with zero knowledge on how to build a website, I built the Festival of Trees website and online store. The past couple of years, we have also started broadcasting our events live so that those who may not be local are still able to participate and view the various events that take place during the two-week period.”
According to Hart, it’s both the community’s involvement (from the trees, wreaths or holiday decor items people create and contribute to the festival, to the people who attend the event) and the festival’s volunteers that make it so special. “We would not be able to successfully execute this event without our dedicated volunteers. Everything from the setup and layout of the event to the volunteers who work two-hour shifts at the information desk, they are all crucial to the success of Festival of Trees,” she said.
“We also would not be able to have such an amazing event without our sponsors: Coastal States Bank, Dollenberg Properties, TidePointe – A Vi Community, Coastal Home & Villa, Hilton Head Insurance & Brokerage, Libby O. Marketing, First Baptist Church HHI, HH Monthly, and the Chocolate Canopy,” Hart added.
Event Schedule
Thursday, November 17: Festival opens to the public
Tuesday, November 22: St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church Children’ s Choir, 6 p.m.
Sunday, November 27: Lessons & Carols, 6 p.m.
Thursday, December 1: Holiday Music presented by Hilton Head Prep’s String Orchestra and Band, 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, December 2-3: Photos with Santa, time TBD
