Festival of wreaths set for Nov. 22

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Celebrating the upcoming holiday season will start Nov. 22 with the annual Festival of Wreaths and Variety Show.

“It’s a great kick off to the holiday season,” said Michele Evink, a member of the event committee. “I think every year people look forward to it.”

The event, put on by Clarke Area Arts Council and The Village Early Childhood Center, will take place at Terrible’s Lakeside Casino’s convention center with social hour starting at 5 p.m and dinner at 5:45 p.m.
Featured at the event are decorated wreaths made by area florists and sponsored by a local business or person.

Participants will then enjoy a mini play that features local performers.

“Through the year, we’ve had a lot of actors,” said Evink. “We try to have a different theme and different line up each year. Not everyone knows how talented [Osceola residents] are.”

This year’s theme will be “Holiday Traditions.” After the play, the entertainment will continue with a flute trio, a community sing, and humorous reading of the Christmas Dutch traditions.

Since the event started seven years ago, it has raised $60,000 for The Village Early Childhood Center and supports different artistic endeavors for local schools.

In the past, the money was used to bring Molly Naumann, a historical architect, to Osceola to speak with 5th grade students about local architecture. According to Evink, the students looked at the architecture by a bus tour of the town.

The event also helped raise additional transportation funds for a Murray Community School trip to the Civic Center.

Evink said the event idea branched from the Festival of Trees. The wreaths seemed like a better idea because the they are more mobile and not as expensive to decorate.

Preparations for the event begin in August and fundraising starts shortly after by selling wreaths, centerpieces and miniature trees to businesses and families for $200 to $300 apiece.

The event also raises money through a silent auction and ticket sales, which are $35 and should be purchased in advance by calling 342-3611. Over 220 people are expected to be at the event.

“The event is a way to raise money for two really good causes while starting the holiday off right,” Evink said.

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