This could be the year that one of Ponoka’s largest fundraising events hits a landmark goal.
The fifth annual Festival of Trees, set for the Calnash Ag Events Centre Nov. 15 to 17, hopes to reach the mark it originally set out for — raising $500,000 in just five years.
“Since we started, we have taken in $363,500 for the Ponoka and District Health Foundation,” said committee chairperson Sherry Gummow.
“We set a goal that in five years we would hit $500,000 and the response over the years has been phenomenal. We live in such a great community and our hospital is vitally important to everyone.”
In the past, the money raised has gone toward various specialized pieces of equipment and programs that help keep Ponoka and area patients closer to home by allowing procedures to be done locally.
This year, the hope is to bring in extra donations to accomplish the original target.
“The money needs to come from somewhere to continue to support our local hospital,” Gummow added.
The three days of festivities kicks off, as usual, with the annual Opening Night Fundraising Gala on Nov. 15 — complete with the beautifully catered dinner by Bob Ronnie to go along with the live and silent auction headlined by two well-known champion auctioneers in Dean Edge and Danny Skeels.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner set to go an hour later, followed by the auctioning off the various trees decorated and donated by businesses in addition other items such as the popular fishing trip to Laurie River Lodge, and more.
As well, the latest edition of the fundraiser will again feature the tremendously popular senior’s tea on Nov. 16 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., complete with coffee, tea and some Christmas cookies.
That is followed the next morning — Nov. 17 starting at 8:30 a.m. — by a special guest visitor from the far north, better known as Breakfast with Santa. The buffet filled with all sorts of wonderful items starts at 9 a.m. and once the food is done, there are prizes available as well as photos with the jolly old man himself.
Tickets can be purchased at Busted Ladies Lingerie.