01/18/2025
Thank you to everyone who voted for our tree at the Welcome Center’s Festival of Trees!! We were able to raise over $500 for the Bedford Christian Ministries thanks to your votes!!
📰PRESS RELEASE
✨Festival of Trees Raises Over $11,000 for Local Charities✨
Bedford, VA – The 16th Annual Festival of Trees, held from November 25 through January 5, has wrapped up another successful season, raising a total of $11,306 for local organizations – a remarkable increase of nearly $1,000 from last year’s fundraising efforts!
Hosted by the Bedford Area Welcome Center and Department of Tourism, the event attracted over 9,000 visitors this year. The Festival of Trees, themed “A Christmas to Remember,” featured 40 local businesses and organizations, each decorating a tree to represent a charity of their choice. Visitors cast votes, contributing $1 per vote, with the total raised for each tree going directly to its designated nonprofit.
“We’re beyond thrilled with the turnout and generosity of our community,” said Michelle Crumpacker, Administrative Manager of the Welcome Center and Festival of Trees event coordinator. “Each of the participants will be presenting a check to the charity they supported, making a tangible impact in our community.”
The top fundraising trees, each garnering more than 500 votes, included:
• Smith Mountain Lake Democrats (benefiting Food for Kids)
• WoodmenLife (benefiting CarePortal – Bedford & Lynchburg Areas)
• Bedford County Sheriff’s Office (benefiting BCSO Toys for Kids Program)
• Virginia Moose Association – Bedford Moose Lodge #1897 (benefiting Bedford Boys Tribute Center)
• Woods Goods & Mercantile (benefiting CASA of Central Virginia)
• Johnny on the Spot Plumbing (benefiting Bedford Christian Ministries)
• The Blue Lady (benefiting Bedford Domestic Violence Coalition)
Additionally, six trees raised over 400 votes each, including those by:
• Ride Source Otter Bus (benefiting Bedford Community Health Foundation)
• Tuck Chiropractic (benefiting Friends of the Bedford County Animal Shelter)
• Bedford Area Family YMCA (benefiting Bedford YMCA Oncology Program)
• National D-Day Memorial (benefiting NDDMF Educational Initiatives)
• Bedford Rifle Grays – SCV 1475 (benefiting National Center for Healthy Veterans)
• Concerned Women for America – Forest, Moneta, & SML Chapters (benefiting Bedford Pregnancy Center)
In addition to tree viewing, children were treated to a fun-filled scavenger hunt, with over 2,100 kids participating — an increase of 200 compared to last year. To ensure all families could enjoy the festivities, the Welcome Center extended its hours several nights in December, accommodating those unable to visit during regular hours.
“The success of this event would not have been possible without the effort of our entire team and volunteers, especially on days when we welcomed hundreds of visitors,” added Nicole Johnson, Director of Tourism. “There was also a lot of advertising of the event via social media, television, and radio, along with flyers and signage placed throughout the community.”
For local businesses interested in participating in next year’s Festival of Trees, applications will be available in the spring. Please contact Michelle Crumpacker at [email protected] for more information.
