Festival of Trees raises funds, spirits at Numerica PAC

WENATCHEE — For four days in November, the Numerica Performing Arts Center transformed into a winter showcase of lights, ornaments and fundraising as the Numerica Festival of Trees returned to downtown Wenatchee as a major holiday tradition and cornerstone benefit for the theater.

The festival ran from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23, with the lobby, hallways and stage filled with decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces available for public viewing and auction. The event served as one of the PAC’s primary annual fundraisers, with proceeds supporting year-round programming and community performances.

The opening night featured the Festival of Spirits, a ticketed evening event pairing the tree preview with a holiday cocktail competition. Local bars and restaurants competed for bragging rights as guests enjoyed music, food and an early view of the Grand Trees, Mini Trees and wreaths that would be up for bid throughout the weekend.

Following the opening, the focus shifted to free public viewing hours and multiple ticketed events. Families were able to wander among the displays, pick favorite designs and place bids. The larger Grand Trees and Classic Trees sold during the signature Dinner & Live Auction on Nov. 22, while Mini Trees, wreaths and other items were offered through silent bidding.

The trees themselves arrived through a mix of sponsorships and volunteer effort. Businesses, service clubs, community groups and individual decorators signed up for sponsorship months in advance. Grand Trees, standing six to eight feet tall, were sponsored at a higher level and came with themed décor and donated packages underneath. Classic Trees, Mini Trees and wreaths filled the rest of the space, creating a dense indoor forest of styles and themes.

Volunteers played a crucial role. Planning committees worked throughout the year on sponsorship, décor, logistics and event programming. During the festival, volunteers helped with setup, greeted guests, assisted bidders and offered tours of the displays. The PAC reported that “hundreds of volunteers” helped bring the event to life.

The festival also carried some local history. The Festival of Trees helped launch the original capital campaign for the performing arts center and became one of its most important ongoing fundraisers. Its early editions netted tens of thousands of dollars to keep the building open and programming active. Over time, it grew into a multi-day tradition that many in North Central Washington say marks the unofficial start of the holiday season.

Throughout the four days, visitors saw a cross-section of the community represented in the designs: Businesses, nonprofits, schools, arts organizations and individual families, each interpreting the holidays in their own way. Some trees leaned classic, with evergreen branches, ribbons and lights; others followed specific themes, from local sports and outdoor recreation to travel, children’s books or vintage ornament collections.

The photo gallery accompanying this story captures scenes from the 2025 festival for those who missed it. You’ll see decorated Grand Trees and wreaths, details from smaller displays and even a glimpse of the space where the dinner and live auction was held on Saturday night.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media