The 19th Annual Festival of Trees is kicking off the holiday season in Mesquite Nov. 18-21 at the Casablanca Event Tent.  Mesquite Arts Council which is hosting the event, chose ‘Joy” for this year’s festival theme.

Local businesses and vendors were working hard on Monday, Nov. 16 to set up their trees and booths for the 19th Annual Festival of Trees being held at the CasaBlanca Event Tent Nov. 18-21. In just the first three hours several trees were already complete. Photo Teri Nehrenz.

Local businesses and vendors were working hard on Monday, Nov. 16 to set up their trees and booths for the 19th Annual Festival of Trees being held at the CasaBlanca Event Tent Nov. 18-21. In just the first three hours several trees were already complete. Photo Teri Nehrenz.

There is a great lineup of entertainment from opening to closing all four days.  “Hearing the Christmas music performed by your friends, neighbors and fellow community members is a great way to kick off the holiday season and spread joy through the community,” said Blair Adams, President of the Mesquite Arts Council. “This has been our tradition here in Mesquite for such a long time and we feel that it’s just been such a warm and wonderful start to celebrating the holidays as a community.

“Next is our Mac-Spec-Tac Christmas Concert and then you have the Community Christmas Concert, The Mesquite Toes Christmas Show,” Adams said. “We can all be together at those events and this one as a community before everybody gets busy with their own holiday plans and family which is how it should be.  The arts organizations, as a whole, have always been eager to begin celebrating the holidays as a community and we each do our own way to support that before it all gets crazy.”

The Mesquite Local News has a complete lineup of entertainment (subject to change) which you can view anytime at www.mesquitelocalnews.com but some of the highlights of the festival are:

Mayor Al Litman will lead a tribute to veterans of all wars highlighting a community member from each from WWII to present day which is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.

There is a ton of things for the kids to enjoy and they are sure to delight in meeting Bosley Bear.  Who is Bosley Bear you ask?  According to a recent press release, “Bosley Bear is the star of a new series of children’s books and will be visiting the Festival of Trees in celebration of the release of “Bosley Bear lost his hair” the first installment and third book of a series.”

Jeremy Bird, author and illustrator of the children’s books, is scheduled to appear with Mr. Bosley and his entourage on Nov. 20 from 2-8 p.m. and on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The children can gather and listen to Ms. Bird tell her stories of Mr. Bosley.

Some of the trees, like the one from Mesquite Local News, are set and ready to go. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘joy’. Roberta Brocius, Jessica Callan and Patty Amore are adding a few finishing touches to the tree. Photo Teri Nehrenz.

Some of the trees, like the one from Mesquite Local News, are set and ready to go. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘joy’. Roberta Brocius, Jessica Callan and Patty Amore are adding a few finishing touches to the tree. Photo Teri Nehrenz.

On Saturday Nov. 21 tell the kids not to be naughty. Mrs. Santa Claus is scheduled to appear at noon to read stories to all the nice children of Mesquite. She’ll be taking a list of naughty and nice kids back to Mr. Santa Claus.

Get out your ugly sweaters for the Ugly Sweater contest Saturday afternoon. There is a $5 entry fee and the winner takes all.

Everybody can enjoy the beautifully themed trees, each telling its own tale of the meaning of joy.  All of the Festival’s Trees are provided by local businesses, private individuals and community organizations and decorated in the chosen theme which changes each year.  After the festival the trees are either taken home or to the office for the holidays but many are donated for sale.

You can even multi-task and enjoy the festival while you take care of your holiday shopping.  Everybody has that one person who has everything.  Well, they don’t have that one-of-a-kind hand-crafted or home-made gift you can find from one of the many vendors.   There will be dozens of different gift items available from jewelry to jellies.

The entrance fee is $4 but there are ways available to cut that price in half.  Mesquite Local News has a coupon you can cut out to save $1 off admission.  Without a coupon you can save $1 by donating two cans of unexpired food.  All food donated supports the Community Food Bank.  Money raised from the Festival supports the arts in the community.