The Gazette Festival of Trees

01/27/2026

We had a great 2025 holiday season and are already looking forward to the 2026 Festival of Trees celebration!✨Volunteer groups are always welcome and encouraged to help our team create the holiday magic.

🎀If you know of any volunteers interested in getting this great opportunity on their calendar, please email [email protected] or register at https://localtickets.thegazette.com/e/fot26volunteer/tickets

12/23/2025

The Gazette Festival of Trees team, along with co-presenting sponsors ESCO Group, and IBEW Local 405, is proud to announce that the Festival of Trees auction helped raise money for YPN and gathered more than 4 pallets-worth of product donations for Foundation 2 Crisis Services.

We’re proud to support YPN and Foundation 2 Crisis Services, as they continue to support our Eastern Iowa community year-round. We are so grateful for their partnership and for their team of volunteers who helped produce another fantastic year of Festival of Trees.

With over 11,000 attendees, this year’s Festival of Trees was one to remember! Thank you to everyone who participated, and have a happy holidays!

https://festivaloftrees.thegazette.com/

11/24/2025

🥇🏠 KEVIN!!!! .... we mean ... Sevita!!!! Their nostalgic, iconic, movie-perfect tree STOLE voters' hearts and earned 1ST PLACE in the 2025 People's Choice Awards this year at The Gazette Festival of Trees!

Packed with childhood memories, holiday mischief, and all the Kevin McCallister charm you could ask for - this tree was the star of the show! ✨

Huge thanks to our co-presenting sponsors ESCO Group and IBEW Local 405 for supporting the magic behind this year's event! ❤

11/24/2025

🎄💚 Well well well.. Systems Unlimited, Inc made our hearts grow THREE sizes this year! ✨Their tree stole the show (and maybe a few hearts) with its festive Whoville glam and charm.

It climbed all the way to 2ND PLACE in the 2025 People's Choice Award at The Gazette Festival of Trees, proving even the Grinch can't resist a little holiday magic! 😉✨

Huge thank-you to ESCO Group and IBEW Local 405 for helping make this year's Festival of Trees brighter!

11/24/2025

🎉We're feeling wonderfully WICKED today!🎉Murdoch Funeral Homes & Cremation Service Wicked tree brewed up a bit of emerald enchantment this year - earning 3RD PLACE in the 2025 People's Choice Awards at The Gazette Festival of Trees 💚 ✨

This tree simply is defy-ing gravity..and it was POPULAR!✨

A huge thank-you to ESCO Group and IBEW Local 405 for helping bring The Festival of Trees magic to life as this year's co-presenting sponsors. 🎄

11/20/2025

The Gazette Festival of Trees team is thrilled we could help support Foundation 2 Crisis Services with this year’s product donations.🎄If you feel like going the extra mile, check out their holiday programs and giving trees to continue supporting throughout the season.

You can help provide a brighter holiday for someone experiencing crisis this holiday season! Our Fostering Futures program supports young people aging out of foster care by helping them navigate housing, education, employment and more.

Our holiday giving tree is located in the lobby of our headquarters, or you can check out our Amazon Wishlist at: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SLDMUVSYOAYN...

Requested items include:
Sweatshirts (adult sizes S-2XL)
Sweatpants (adult sizes S-2XL)
Teen beauty supplies
Wireless earbuds
Restaurant & gas gift cards

New, unwrapped items can be donated at our Headquarters, 305 2nd Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids, through Dec. 17. We're open to the public Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Questions? Call 319-362-1170.

11/19/2025

Thank you to all the Holiday Vendors who made it a great weekend! We appreciate our Holiday Market Sponsor The Weitz Company to help us spotlight these amazing vendors. Check out our website to see all the vendors who participated. https://festivaloftrees.thegazette.com/holiday-market/

What a weekend! 🎁✨ Thank you to all the fabulous shoppers who made Festival of Trees so much fun — you filled my cup (and my heart)! And cheers to the awesome staff for the holiday hospitality. 🌲💚

11/18/2025

✨So many amazing trees found homes after this year’s Festival of Trees!🎄There are a couple trees that still need a forever home so we have set up a 2nd auction for 12 days to help us raise as much money as we can for YPN this holiday season!

🔍Check out the auction here. https://store.thegazette.com/collections/unsold-auction-trees

11/18/2025

11/18/2025

11/18/2025

Missed out on grabbing a Shop & Dine punch card at Festival of Trees? Don’t worry! They will be on sale throughout the holiday season and expire Jan 31! Thank you Downtown Cedar Rapids for your partnership!

We're partnering with The Gazette to help you support Downtown businesses this holiday season!🎄☃️ You can purchase a Shop & Dine Local card at the Festival of Trees event or online for just $15. Each card includes exclusive discounts and special offers at participating local businesses.

Learn more and see participating businesses here: https://bit.ly/3LiIB61

07/17/2025

🎄 Drumroll, please… 🎄The Gazette, along with co-presenting sponsors ESCO Group and IBEW Local 405, are excited to announce YPN as the 2025 Festival of Trees Tree Auction Proceeds Recipient! 💚

From group programs and home visits to the Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank, YPN strengthens our entire community by helping families build strong foundations.

Since 1985, YPN has been committed to:
✅ Supporting families through stabilization
✅ Educating with world-class programming
✅ Empowering parents and children to thrive

Bid on a tree at Festival of Trees to support this amazing local nonprofit! Visit the FOT website to learn more about the event and how you can get involved! https://festivaloftrees.thegazette.com/