Downtown Port Coquitlam has a burst of holiday sparkle this month with the recent launch of the fifth annual Christmas Tree Festival.
A fundraiser for PoCo Heritage — and sponsored in part by The Tri-City News — the 2017 festival includes 64 trees decorated by businesses and groups and sited in storefronts as well as city hall, Leigh Square Community Arts Village, Terry Fox Library and (new for this year) the Hyde Creek recreation complex.
PoCo Heritage’s space on McAllister Avenue has five trees on display from the Crossroads Hospice Society, PoCo Garden Club, Forrest Marine, 1st PoCo Scouts and PoCo Heritage — all with handmade crafts and unique toppers.
Volunteers with the garden club, which has entered the tree fest every year since it started, hung seed envelopes while the Scouts created a racing car scene. Forrest Marine provided ornaments made by members of PoCo Coun. Mike Forrest’s family; it has a lighthouse instead of a star at its point.
Online public voting runs until Dec. 31 via pocochristmasfestival.ca while PoCo Heritage judges — Laura Thomas, Bob Lee and Coun. Brad West — will also award prizes for the best in show; the winners will be named on Jan. 6.
As well, residents can take part in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes (download a form at pocoheritage.org).
Festival chair and PoCo Heritage vice-president Linda Sliworsky said last year’s campaign brought in about $4,800 for group operations; however, she expects this year’s total to drop given there are 24 fewer trees exhibited.
“The numbers are a little disappointing,” she said. “There is a lot of volunteer burnout at this time of year.”
Still, the festival drew eight new first-time participants, she said.
