Daily entertainment and dozens of beautifully decorated Christmas trees take center stage at the 27th annual Warren Holiday TreeFest sponsored by the Warren Arts & Education Foundation Inc.
The event takes place Friday, November 20 through Tuesday, November 24 at the Warren Performing Arts Center (WPAC), 9500 East 16th Street on the campus of Warren Central High School. Hours are 3:30 to 8 pm November 20, 23 & 24; 12 noon to 4 pm November 21, and 12 noon to 8 pm November 22.
Admission is $4 for adults, and $3 for students and seniors age 65+. Children 5 and under are admitted free. In addition to the display of trees, TreeFest features a holiday gift shop, refreshments, Breakfast with Santa & Friends and the annual TreeFest Dinner & Auction (both on Saturday, November 21), plus live entertainment on the WPAC stage by school choirs and other local groups throughout the event. On Tuesday, November 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, professional entertainer and Indianapolis native Anita Hall appears in concert.
Hall, a 1987 Warren Central graduate, is renowned for her ability to change vocal gears seamlessly from country to jazz, rock to Broadway. Her career credits include performances with symphony orchestras in Hartford, Grand Rapids, St. Louis, Omaha, Long Beach, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Hawaii, and other locales. Hall’s CD, “Send Love,” received the Hawaii Music Award for Inspirational CD of the Year and was selected for the Grammy Awards ballot. The songstress recently returned to Indianapolis after many years living and working in Hawaii.
“We are thrilled to present an entertainer of Anita Hall’s caliber, and look forward to welcoming her back to Warren and to TreeFest,” said Donna Studevent, TreeFest chairperson. “Her November 24 performance will be a tremendous complement to our annual presentation of these spectacular trees, and we hope the community will turn out en force to welcome her home.”
Themed “Hometown Christmas,” TreeFest’s lavishly decorated trees are available for purchase, with sales benefiting initiatives of the Warren Arts & Education Foundation. The Foundation provides funding for a wide variety of programs throughout Warren Township Schools that are not covered by the traditional school budget.
Included among the display are six Celebrity Trees, decorated by well-known Indianapolis area residents. This year’s Celebrity Decorators are WNBA and Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings; Indy Eleven mascot Zeke; WJJK Radio morning show host Greg Browning; Michael Grady and Joe Staysniak, co-hosts of 1070 The Fan’s Grady & Big Joe Show; and Buttercup, mascot of American Dairy Association Indiana.
Each Celebrity Tree, along with special items provided by their decorators, will be offered for bid at the annual Holiday TreeFest Dinner & Auction, Saturday, November 21, 6:30 pm at the Community Life Center, 10612 East Washington Street. A wide range of additional items in silent and live auctions will feature sports tickets and memorabilia, apparel, collectibles, and much more. Tickets for the dinner and auctions are $30 per person.
The annual TreeFest “Breakfast with Santa & Friends” will be held on Saturday, November 21, 10 to 11:30 am at the WPAC’s Studio Theatre. Youngsters are invited to dress in holiday attire, bring a favorite stuffed animal and enjoy music, storytelling, delicious breakfast items, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more. Tickets are $5 per person.
Reservations are required for the Holiday TreeFest Dinner & Auction and Breakfast with Santa & Friends, and can be made by calling 317.869.4383.
Additional information about the Warren Arts & Education Foundation, Warren Holiday TreeFest, and the Foundation’s initiatives to benefit Warren Township Schools can be found at warrenfoundation.org.
