The lucky winners of the Arts Council’s annual Mini Tree Festival were announced at the Nov. 30 Coffee House.
Forty-two skillfully decorated trees and wreaths were donated for the event, all adorned with festive colors, ornaments, tiny lights, and homemade items. Each had a theme, including “Peppermint Kisses,” “Merry Grinchness,” and “Little Red Truck.”
The Arts Council provided several sizes of small trees and wreaths for pickup in early November. Participants selected one, decorated it, and returned it before the drawing. Those hoping to win purchased tickets at the Council and placed them in a special sack assigned to each entry throughout the day and evening of Galva’s Old-Fashioned Christmas.
The Festival, which has been going on for over 25 years, was the brainstorm of Marge Dickenson, who was instrumental in creating the Arts Council in the early 1990s. Mary Hathaway initially procured the trees, and later Scott Caravello, each getting the trees at cost for the group.
According to Linda Garret, board president, this year’s event raised over $1,700.
“This will help us to provide many of the programs we offer to children and adults,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see the community coming together to make this annual festival happen.”
The Titles, Designers and Winners are as follows:
| Title | Designer | Winner |
| Merry & Bright | Polly Lawrence | Dave Capes |
| Walking in Winter | Brooke Bachman | Ophelia Norway |
| God Jul | Brooke Bachman | Nick Ballard |
| Believe | Patty Collinson | Kris Appel |
| Don’t Be a Grinch | Terri Ferguson | Destiny Zurek |
| Merry Catmas | Patty Collinson | Megan Sloan |
| Red & White Delight | Melissa Niemeyer | Tom Bedharer |
| Nature’s Tree | Debra Booth | Amy Martin |
| Caffeinated Christmas | Whitney Godsil | Desi Rohling |
| Snow Much Fun | Amanda Stodgel | Karen Hawkins |
| Crochet Christmas | Galva Senior Citizen Center | Kaitlynn Ballard |
| Lit | Debra Booth | Julie Appell |
| Santa Baby | Allie Burford | Carlin Follis |
| Merry Christmas Pine | Debra Booth | Marsha A. |
| Snowflake | Debra Booth | Chris & Gerri Siemers |
| Merry “Paw”mas | Big Tom’s | Skylar Torbert |
| All is Calm All is Bright | Amy Martin | Adam Jaquet |
| Buffalo Plaid | Denise Wills | Kim Lister |
| Winter Burgundy | Mary Lou Murphy | Patty Collinson |
| Silver Bells | Patty Collinson | Diana Whitney |
| Gingerbread Christmas | Sydney Eklund | Kylie Martin |
| Silver & Blue Snowmen | Denise Wills | Beatrix Zurek |
| Merry Grinchness | Brook Bachman | Declyn |
| Away in the Manger | Linda Getter | Frankie Cortes |
| Santa Jar | Linda Getter | Sharon Bainbridge |
| Snow Fun | Diana Whitney | Karen Palmer |
| Lighting up for Christmas | Megan Sloan | Linda VanDeVelde |
| Gnome Christmas | Denise Wills | Denise Wills |
| Peppermint Kisses | Melissa Niemeyer | Brittany Appell |
| Trippie Christmas | Rachel Watson | Pat Raley |
| Meowy Catmas | Savannah Bumphrey, Rhonda Ballard, Kaitland Ballard | Megan Sloan |
| Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice | Patty Collinson | Lyman Streeper |
| Little Red Truck | Tim Murphy | T. Raley |
| Sounds of Christmas | Carlin Follis | Naomi Peterson |
| Boho Christmas | Amanda Norway | Adam Norway |
| Hunter’s Delight | Kelly Torbert | Teri Volkert |
| Messages from Christmas | Galva Senior Citizen Center | Susan Shultz |
| Christmas Memories | Sharon Bainbridge | Tami Siemers |
| Sprinkle King | Frankie Cortes | Arlo Morris |
| Christmas Lights until January | Destiny Zurek | Bethany Glaser |
| Sugar Plum Faries | Josh & Tilly Dishman | Deb Root |
| It’s looking a lot like Christmas | Josh & Tilly Dishman | Paul Jaquet |
The Galva Arts Council web page says the following: “We are dedicated to bringing people together to promote and participate in the arts. A network of volunteers brings a passion for sharing talents with the local community and sponsoring events.
“The Arts Council Center, located at 128 Exchange Street, provides the people of Galva, and surrounding communities a place to enjoy a variety of visual and performing arts. The Center is home to many activities throughout the year: monthly Coffeehouses, seasonal luncheons, arts and crafts workshops, yoga classes, and more. It provides a range of activities during the annual Old Fashioned Christmas celebration each year.”
It is also the lead agency for the Levitt AMP Music series, which brings professional, worldwide talent to Galva’s Wiley Park each summer.
To learn more about the Council, and what it offers, visit their Facebook page or the website at www.galvaartscouncil.org.