The Georgia Festival of Trees is coming up soon, and the deadline to enter a decorated tree in the annual auction is October 31. The November event includes a forest of adorned trees, the Pink Pig in her return to Atlanta, and a First Night Celebration Gala chaired by Brookhaven Court resident Jean Redding.

 

While a spectacular occasion on its own, the festival also raises funds for two charitable organizations working to end the sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. This year’s beneficiaries are Street Grace and Atlanta Redemption Ink. Sex trafficking of children is expected to become an even bigger issue in Atlanta in the next two years as the city prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, says Jean.

 

Long a staple of the Atlanta Christmas season, the Georgia Festival of Trees disappeared about 15 years ago. Then in 2021, Angie Ulibarri, a fairly new Atlanta resident, helped return the tradition to the state. She wanted to marry the happiness of a holiday celebration with raising funds for a good cause, in particular fighting sex trafficking of children in Georgia.

 

Now Angie serves as executive director of the festival, which will begin its fourth year with the First Night Celebration Gala on November 22, and be open for touring from November 23 through December 1.

 

Last year, over 25,000 people attended the festival. This year’s attendance is expected to increase by somewhere between 50% to 80% with the addition of the Pink Pig. The 2024 ride will be a trackless five-car train that traverses the forest as the Pink Pig narrates.

 

The November 22 gala is adult only. Tickets gain you access to all the festival areas except the children’s space, and include a sneak peek at the Pink Pig before she officially launches the following day. Tables of 10 are selling for $1,600 and individual tickets are available for $175. Dinner, open bar, and a live auction are part of the evening festivities.

 

For those who want to be part of the festival by donating a decorated tree, there are both small and large tree options. The trees, ornaments, skirts, lights, garland, and under-tree decorations are then auctioned off to the highest bidder. Entrants can choose their own theme and include a variety of items to make their tree worth more. Last year, an abominable snowman tree with all its decorations was valued at over $4,000. Another tree included tickets for a trip. The trees have generally sold in the range of a few hundred dollars up to about $3,000.

 

For more information about the festival, gala, and Pink Pig or to purchase tickets, visit https://gafestivaloftrees.org/. You can also volunteer by signing up at https://gafestivaloftrees.org/volunteers/. The festival is particularly in need of Pink Pig drivers. Fred Freeney, director of the ride, says grandfathers make really good train driver volunteers.