The Blue & White

by Sloan Farrell

The Methuen Festival of Trees closed out its 30th year celebrating on December 2, 2023 with over 200 trees proudly on display.

The Festival of Trees is a fundraising event focused on the preservation of historical sites of the Merrimack Valley. The group that organizes the event has donated more than $2 million to various preservation projects in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

Over 200 trees are donated annually by local companies, families, schools, and groups. A panel of judges award stellar trees in 10 categories, along with one ‘Best of the Festival’ award. The winner of this award gets the opportunity to present a tree the following year at the Charles Center Court.

Visitors were able to purchase raffle tickets, and every wreath, mini tree and large tree went to a lucky winner.

The first Festival took place in 1994 at the Nevins Memorial Library, with a humble 17 trees. The festival was conceived in order to raise enough funds to repair the Tenney Gate House, located on Pleasant Street. Repairs to the Gatehouse were completed soon thereafter, and it became the Methuen Museum of History.

The Festival quickly grew in popularity, eventually boasting more than 10 times the original number of trees. People now come from all over New England to experience the celebration while many visitors continue to be unaware of the purpose behind it.

The Festival of Trees Inc. is the non-profit organization that organizes the Methuen Festival of Trees and allocates the funds raised to their nearly 60 preservation partners in 25 communities across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

For more information, go to https://www.methuenfestivaloftrees.com/