This year the Dakota Hope Clinic will be continuing their tradition of hosting the Festival of Trees event at the North Dakota State Fair Event Center on November 22nd through the 23rd. This year, Nadia Smetana, the Dakota Hope Clinic Executive Director, and Amanda Olsen, the Committee Chair for the event both spoke on Festival of Trees. Both Nadia and Amanda were thrilled to share their excitement for ushering in holiday cheer. Between the live and silent auctions, 5k runs, and bake sale, Festival of Trees is sure to be a hit!

When asked her opinion on the value of the Festival of Trees, Nadia Smetana said, “It gives individuals and families fun things to do that are inspirational and helps when the weather is a little colder now and helps them prepare for the holidays too.” For example, Nadia Smetana mentioned that at the bake sale there will be tons of delicious baked goodies to choose from, including Thanksgiving pies. Amanda Olsen added that the bake sale will be accepting donated baked goods until November 20th for anyone who would like to participate! This year, the event is going to have a many of options for friends and families in the community to take part in!

There will be both a live and silent auction. The live auction will be held with a dinner and the tickets are $45 a person. Festival-goers can participate in the live auction through the website at no extra cost. The live auction will consist of decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, and nativities. In fact, Amanda Olsen did confirm there will be a Star Wars Christmas tree in this year’s auction and there may even be a few extra goodies to go along with the tree! All live trees purchased during the live auction will even be able to be delivered within 25 miles of Minot. In comparison, the silent auction can be participated online and at the festival at no extra cost. The silent auction will consist of customized baskets, baked goods, memberships, and handcrafted products. The auctions are just one piece of this event. There will also be a Live Interactive Nativity otherwise known as “Follow the Star,” which for the first time, includes live animals! The Dashing Through the Snow 5k will also be conducted on Saturday the 23rd of November from 12pm to 2pm, and there is a prize for best costume. Another great part of the event is Raffle Row, tickets can be purchased to put towards different raffle prizes, it is important that all prizes have a coordinated pick-up time and will not be able to be delivered.

Although the Festival of Trees is a time filled with excitement, the mission for the event is what is the most intriguing. The Dakota Hope Clinic, it is a Pregnancy Help Clinic that offers a variety of services ranging from free first-time ultra-sounds to free parenting classes or pregnancy classes. The Dakota Hope Clinic is also not just for the mother-to-be. Their classes are also geared toward the father-to-be as they learn to cope with parenthood. When asked about her opinion on the importance of The Festival of Trees, Amanda Olsen said, “The goal of Festival of Trees is to bring awareness about what Dakota Hope Clinic is about. So, we have information booths there where people can learn about Dakota Hope and what services they provide. Because they provide free services, they’re not funded by the government. It’s completely funded by donors.” This is just one reason the Festival of Trees is so important for the community, the event itself also holds some impact on all members who participate.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with the Festival of Trees this year, please use the QR code! Whether volunteering or showing up to show support, The Festival of Trees is going to be fun for the whole family!