Tlaquepaque’s Festival of Trees delivers the Christmas spirit, Nov 27 - Dec 6, 2009

The schedule of the Festival of Trees special events:

Friday, November 27. The Festival of Trees, The Inspired Tree event opens. 10:00 am.

Wednesday, December 2. Bring your favorite pet for a photo sitting with Santa. Proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Sedona. No pythons or alligators please! Patio de las Campanas, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

Friday, December 4. Enjoy First Friday in the Galleries and the Festival of Trees Special Customer Appreciation Evening (both Friday and Saturday!) in all shops and galleries with Free Gift-wrapping sponsored by the Girl Scouts. There will also be special discounts and a gift with purchase items.

Exotic animals on display from Out of Africa, 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

Red Rockin’ Grannies performing in Patio del Norte, 4:00 - 4:30 pm.

Busker Eaton Jazz Trio, “an off-kilter jazz/fusion trio” will perform in Patio Las Campanas, 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Eco Andaluz- Musical Trio, featuring Eric Miller, playing in Patio del Norte, 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Saturday December 5, Visit with Santa, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

"Kids Be A Star" Kids create ceramic holiday decorations and gifts sponsored by "Imagine Art" in Patio de las Campanas, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

Dickens Carolers will perform in each Tlaquepaque courtyard, with Dickens-era costumes. 3:00 – 5:00 pm.

Holiday Reception Under the Stars, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Both the Festival of Trees silent holiday gifts auction and final bids on the tree auction close on Sunday the 6^th at 4:00 pm. Winners are invited to take their trees home at that time. For additional information please contact Mally Paquette, the event coordinator, at 928-592-2177.

Home to more than 40 shops and galleries and four restaurants, Tlaquepaque, the Art and Soul of Sedona, now in its 36th year, is located at 336 State Route 179 at the Oak Creek Bridge just south of 89A. It is open daily at 10:00 am. For more information call (928) 282-4838, visit: www.tlaq.com and for your online shopping, www.shoptlaq.com.

SEDONA, AZ (November 20, 2009) - Last year if you missed the wildly creative inspirations of local artists using Christmas trees as their three-dimensional canvases, you’re in for a treat.

The popular Festival of Trees event/fundraiser is back for a second year and kicks off the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 27^th and runs through to Sunday, December 6^th, 2009 at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. The public is warmly invited to attend the free event.

Artistic merriment abounds with a Christmas tree bedecked with brightly painted recycled light bulbs of every kind, a splendid “angel tree” made of scrap roofing tin for protruding wings. Or how about a tree resembling a saguaro cactus decorated with chili pepper lights and intricately handcrafted gourds?

Local well known artists and Tlaquepaque galleries have been madly preparing to wow the crowds with their own artistic interpretations of this year’s theme: “The Inspired Tree.”

Numerous galleries have entered their own artistic themes: Isadora, with Christmas Flight; Feliz Navidad with Christmas in the Desert and Festive Baby Socorro; Eclectic Images presents Angel of Kindness; El Prado’s theme is Partridge in a Pear Tree by popular sculptor Mike Medow; Gifted Hands presents The Earth’s Christmas.

The dazzling tree creations will be situated on the upper terrace of Patio del Norte and in Patio de las Campanas. The good news is that you can bid on one of your favorite trees and know that the proceeds are helping others and saving lives. Funds from the tree sales will benefit Toys For Tots, Camp Soaring Eagle, The Humane Society of Sedona, and Desert Star Community School. Get a jump on holiday shopping by bidding on some wonderful gift items as well—from Tlaquepaque galleries and shops—at the silent auction tables where proceeds will also help the designated organizations.

To help youngsters in the area who may be facing a bleak Christmas everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy. The Toys for Tots folks will provide gift-wrapping and deliver them to the kids in time for Christmas.

“Last year was such a great success we are really happy to be hosting the Festival of Trees again this year. It’s a wonderful way to both celebrate the coming of Christmas and the incredible artistic talent we have here in Sedona,” said Wendy Lippman managing partner of Tlaquepaque.

Kids can get photos with Santa and create decorations using vibrantly colored paints on a wide variety of bisqueware pottery. Sedona’s Imagine Art will be set up at Patio de las Campanas to help everyone make a one-of-a-kind tree ornament or prepare a special gift.