The COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous special events and activities to be cancelled this year. And now, the annual OSF Festival of Trees at Danville’s Palmer Arena is the latest to join the cancellation list.
Jared Rogers, President of OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center, and Debbie Michenfelder, Major Gifts Officer of the Medical Center, made the announcement. They noted that for the past 23 years they have been deep into the planning for the Festival of Trees at this time of the year – but not this year. Planning for the event normally begins early in the year and involves many people making many decisions said Dr. Rogers and Michenfelder in a joint statement. They said actions required for the Festival of Trees to occur have been put on hold.
As a result of the delay, and the adverse economic impact of the pandemic, ‘’and the great likelihood that the activity of infections will still be with us at the time the festival should occur, it is with great regret that we must cancel the 2020 Festival of Trees.’’
OSF says it is planning a much shorter, fun-filled one day event this fall to raise funds to help the many people and families in the community and surrounding area who are battling cancer. More details of that event will be announced later.
