Mackenzie Thomas
Staff Writer
For the 27th year, the University of Wyoming will be set to host their annual Laramie Festival of Trees event.
The event will take place Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Wyoming Art Museum.
The Laramie Festival of Trees event is one of the most attended events hosted by the UW Art Museum.
“There will be student artwork and performances, family art making in our studio and photos with Santa- all within the setting of the beautifully decorated trees,” Reinhardt said.
These performances will include a variety of musical, choral, and dance performances from students and various dance companies and choral groups from the community. This event will also help kick off the Albany County student artwork exhibition, which will be on exhibit from Dec. 7 to Dec. 21.
Towards the end of the performances, the People’s Choice Award will be given out to the winning tree that gains the most votes from the community.
“Local Laramie businesses and organizations were invited to decorate trees for the silent auction,” said Janine Reinhardt, an administrative assistant for the University of Wyoming Art Museum. She said the silent auction will be a significant aspect of the Festival of Trees Event.
The auction will help benefit educational programming at the UW Art Museum. This will allow Laramie community members an opportunity to participate in new programming at the Art Museum.
Families and community members are also encouraged to join in the Festival of Trees event because creative activities like holiday card making, ornament making and the crafting of other holiday decorations will be offered. There will be cookies and punch provided during the craft times for this event.
There will also be a pop-up market featuring work from the local artist Tara Pappas. Pappas uses her artwork to explore the connection of fairy tales, folklore, and fables with ordinary everyday life.
The Laramie Festival of Trees event is sponsored by several community groups and members including Grand Avenue Dental, Gary and Kim Negich, Laramie Spinal Care Center, Family Care Clinic and John McPherson DDS. All events and activities in the Laramie Festival of Trees events will be family friendly and free to the general public. Children of all ages alongside their families, community members and even UW students are both encouraged and welcomed to attend the Laramie Festival of Trees event.
