Annual Christmas Tree Fantasy calling all entrants
By Jane Howard Lee
Contributor
Published November 04, 2009
Terry Presley is thinking about Christmas tree decorating.
That’s because as the director of Baytown Historical Museum, Presley is ready to take registrations from people who want to participate in the museum’s annual Christmas Tree Fantasy.
“We always look forward to this event,” Presley said. “It is such a good way to kick off the Christmas season.”
This will be the 23rd year that the museum has hosted the event, which is a competition and display of trees decorated by groups or individuals.
There is no cost to enter, but entrants must provide their own tree and decorations.
The only limitation is that the trees cannot exceed six feet in height and the decorations must be tasteful.
The deadline for registration is Nov. 15. Entrants can set up and decorate their trees from Friday, Nov. 20 through Thursday, Nov. 28.
The first public viewing of the finished Christmas trees will be on Monday, Nov. 30 when the Museum’s Christmas Tree Fantasy opens to visitors.
Santa Claus will be at the museum to visit with children and hear their Christmas wishes. Re-freshments will be served.
The event also includes a raffle and one giveaway.
“We’ll be selling raffle tickets for two separate items — a beautiful wood and iron cross and also a raffle winner’s choice of either a University of Texas or Texas A&M University chip-and-dip set by Arthur Court,” Presley said.
Those raffle tickets, available at the museum, cost $1 each or buy six tickets for $5, she said.
Visitors to the Christmas Tree Fantasy also can put their names in a pot for a free drawing. The winner will take home a Music of the Sphere wind chime, according to Presley.
Guests at the museum that night and for the next two weeks can cast votes for their favorites of the decorated trees. That voting period will end Dec. 12 and award plaques provided by the Bay Area Heritage Society will be presented for the first-place through fifth-place trees.
“We had 16 trees last year, but of course for me the most memorable was the one decorated by the little boy who won,” said Presley.
That little boy, 5-year-old Nathan Eitel, took home the plaque for first place against some stiff competition.
“We always get a lot of support from the service organizations, but we also have businesses, churches, schools, senior citizen groups, junior organizations, families and individuals who take part,” Presley said.
For registration information, call Baytown Historical Museum at 281-427-8768. The museum is at 220 W. Defee in Baytown.