Festival of Trees Gala A Success

Decorated trees set mood for holiday festivities.

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The annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for the SCV Boys and
Girls Club Foundation was held Saturday, November 15 at the Hyatt Valencia,
putting several hundred people in a holiday mood.

A playhouse decorated as Santa's candy shop was part of the Six Flags tree tableau

Hallways surrounding the grand ballroom of the hotel were
filled with 7- to 9-foot trees decorated in themes, colors or classic
old-fashioned Christmas style, giving guests a chance to choose from several
different ways to decorate their homes.

Trees weren’t the only things taking center stage; dozens of
luxurious wreaths and garlands were on display for buyers as guests approached
the smaller ballroom, where a boutique filled with gifts, decorative items,
tabletop trees and gingerbread houses awaited. Buyers scooped up the edible creations,
festooned with things like snowmen, animals, birds and, of course, Santa (a
beach setting for the jolly old elf was popular).  

Shoppers were tempted by the array of gifts in the boutique

Daytime attendance seemed to get a boost from the Sayre
Fire; with freeways closed and other events cancelled, several families came
over to enjoy a visit with Santa and did a little shopping, leaving in a
holiday mood.

Later Saturday evening, the dress code changed from casual
to elegant for the Magic of the Lights gala, where more than 200 people turned
out to do some shopping and bid on the elegant trees that had been on display.

Trees lined the hallways around the Hyatt's grand ballroom.

One of the biggest “kids” at the gala was Six Flags Magic
Mountain President Jay Thomas, who couldn’t resist climbing into the playhouse
decorated like a candy cottage where “Santa” worked, listening to a ball game
on a crackly radio, surrounded by dozens of pint-sized decorations. Six Flags
staffer Donna Bendell created the sweet snowy playhouse, which was on display
next to a 9-foot evergreen decked out with Six Flags merchandise as well as
brightly colored decorations.

A festive Hanukkah table was up for bidding.

Along with spirited bidding for trees named “Mardi Gras,”
“Amber Ambiance,” Navajo Natividad” and “A Multitude of Angels,” auctioneer
Marc Drilling coaxed the crowd into buying nine “Club Trees” for needy club
families that come packaged with grocery certificate and gifts for each family
member.

Magic Mountain President Jay Thomas was the biggest kid in the playhouse

With nine “club trees” sold and the winning bids for the
other 25 trees, Drilling was able to garner $56,700 during the live auction.

Event chairs Carl and Jeri Goldman were pleased with the
event, calling it a success.

Paper cranes were featured on this tree.

A lucky bidder takes home a castle gingerbread house

Nancy Olmos gets ready to pipe frosting onto a snowman that needed a little help.