Preparations are underway for the Second Annual Festival of Trees, hosted by First Church, West Hartford and businesses and individuals are invited to donate decorated trees.

Submitted release

Festival of Trees. West Hartford 2014 Holiday Stroll. Photo by Joy Taylor

The West Hartford Festival of Trees is once again part of West Hartford’s annual Holiday Stroll which this year will be held on Dec. 3, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Festival of Trees will take place at First Church, 12 South Main St., and this year the hours the trees will be on display will be extended to include Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

More than 700 people attended last year’s Festival and more than $2,400 was raised and donated through First Church’s outreach program to Gifts of Love, Interval House, Loaves and Fishes, Foodshare, Habitat for Humanity, Covenant to Care for Children, Freshplace, My Sister’s Place, and South Park Inn.

Businesses, organizations, individuals, and families are asked to donate decorated artificial trees (any size), which will be displayed at the Festival of Trees in the church’s auditorium before being raffled off. The theme of the tree can reflect personal or business interests; the only costs will be the tree and its lights and decorations. For tax purposes, donors will receive a donation receipt indicating that First Church is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Raffle tickets will be sold during the Festival and a suggested donation will be collected at the door.

Participants may complete the registration form at www.whfirstchurch.org. Mail printed forms to First Church, 12 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107, Attn: Kim Carbone. Registration for a tree must be submitted by Nov. 24.

Trees should be delivered to First Church, West Hartford on Nov. 30. Winning bidders will be notified Dec. 7 to pick up their trees by Dec. 10.

For more information, contact Kim Carbone, [email protected] or 860-561-3620 or the Church Office at 860-233-9605. You may also visit the church website.