(Supplied/file photo)

By Ian Gustafson

Holiday Tradition

32nd annual Festival of Trees begins Friday

Nov 27, 2025 | 8:00 AM

The 32nd annual Festival of Trees, an important fundraiser for the Red Deer Regional Hospital Foundation, has finally arrived.

From Nov. 28-30, there will be public activities and a series of ticketed events for Red Deerians to attend, including the main event at the tree room located in Neeralta Pavilion.

Red Deer Regional Hospital Foundation CEO Manon Therriault said the funds raised this year will go toward a temporary cardiac catheterization lab for the hospital.

“The Foundation has committed to building an interim cardiac cath lab as part of the hospital expansion. The hospital expansion is receiving two cardiac cath labs in 2031, but we as a community don’t believe that’s soon enough because 35 people per year in the central zone pass away due to heart complications because we don’t have this service,” she said. “We’re looking to fund the capital for a new interim cardiac cath lab that will open in 2027.”

The tree room will feature 50 donated and decorated Christmas trees and wreaths, which will be auctioned off through online or in-person bidding beginning Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. The trees and wreaths are decorated by what they call their festival elves, community members, and sponsors.

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There will also be plenty of other public activities available to attend at the Neeralta Pavilion during the hours of Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., as well as on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those aged 13 and above will be able to enter for $10, and children aged four to 12 for $5. Finally, seniors over the age of 65 can enter for $8.

Candy Cane Lane, a special children’s area that contains fun and games in the Pavilion, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, followed by 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

There will also be an entertainment stage that’s included in gate admission, which will feature local performers.

Meantime, all of the ticketed events, including the Preview Dinner, the Festival of Wines & Spirits, and the Mistletoe Magic: Princess Ball, are now sold out.

“I think what people can expect is what they love and remember,” Therriault said. “Given it’s a longstanding kickoff to the holidays here in central Alberta over the last 32 years, there’s a lot of tradition built around this event.”

She added that over 1,400 volunteers will give their time to make the three-day event run smoothly.

“This is truly a community event when it comes to who attends it and who helps us put it on. It is genuinely the feel of what our community is all about.”