This holiday season, The Festival of Trees will be taking over Love Park’s Welcome Center. This new activation features Christmas trees donned with holiday lights, original art pieces, themed ornaments, keepsakes and more—all of which are designed to celebrate and raise money for children’s health in our community.
“We are thrilled to launch a brand-new holiday tradition and attraction in the heart of Center City just in time for the 2023 holiday season,” said Christmas Village Philadelphia CEO and President Thomas Bauer in a statement.
Bauer continued: “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring new life to the Southwest Corner of Love Park and activate the Welcome Center, while we raise money for such an important community cause. All funds from votes will be donated to CHOP to help close the gap between resources and breakthroughs for patients who need it most. It is a win-win for holiday merry-makers and for our community as a whole.”
The showcase—which marks the first in the Welcome Center since its renovations—was put together through the support of local artists, makers, designers, and community volunteers. Visitors will be able to partake in the event as well by voting for their favorite design by making a donation to the 2023 beneficiary, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Visitors can also stop by this free activation every weekend as well for photos with Santa every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hours for the season once its open on Nov. 30, will be noon to 7 p.m. (Sunday to Thursday) and noon to 8 p.m. (Friday to Saturday).
As the release states, all sponsors and designers will help join in the goal of giving back and bringing Christmas magic to the hundreds of thousands of visitors coming through Love Park during the season. All proceeds from the voting process will support CHOP’s Children’s Fund, which provides support where the need is greatest, touching every area of the hospital.
“Whether it is to ease the financial burden on patient families, fast track a research discovery or provide healthcare resources to members of the community, we are honored that funds from the Festival of Trees at Christmas Village in Philadelphia will fuel critical work to improve the lives of children in our care,” continued Dana Raftas, Associate Vice President of Institutional and Events Fundraising from CHOP in a statement.
Sponsors for the Festival of Trees includes the Philadelphia Eagles, Citadel Credit Union, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Mazza Wines, SEPTA, Philadelphia Zoo with its LumiNature Lightshow, Wawa and many others. Philadelphians can join in on the charitable incentives themselves by creating their own DIY gift tags, every Monday to Thursday between Dec. 4 and 21. All donations over $10 will get a free hot chocolate at Christmas Village.
For more information, visit the philachristmas.com/festival-of-trees website or follow on social @philafestivaloftrees. For more about CHOP, visit chop.edu or follow @childrensphila.
