With the cool airs of autumn sneaking in this week, it’s definitely time to start thinking about Danville’s 24th Annual Festival of Trees at the David S Palmer Arena. Jim Anderson and Pat O’Shaughnessy joined Linda Bolton on 1490 WDAN’s News Makers program this week. And as Anderson explained, yes indeed, Balloons over Vermilion is now overseeing Festival of Trees, taking over for OSF.
AUDIO: The Board of Balloons Over Vermilion unanimously agreed to take on the baton, if you will, from OSF Health Care, for this wonderful community event. The hospital had been giving consideration to a change in their business plan through the foundation for a couple years. That information had gotten back to us, and so we actually started conversations, at least a couple of years ago.
Anderson says this has been a smooth transition, and Board of Balloons will certainly be showing their thanks to OSF.
AUDIO: One of our arrangements with the hospital is that in exchange for that help, we will be dedicating a portion of the proceeds, actually over the next five years, back to the hospital. Now the hospital will determine what they wish to do with those proceeds, but this year in particular, those dollars will going back to the Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Care Center.
As O’Shaughnessy points out, after years of running Balloons Over Vermilion, and having EXPERIENCE with Festival of Trees….taking over the whole thing has been an awakening.
AUDIO: A lot of us have experience in being chair of the Festival of Trees. Jim actually was at the foundation for a few years so he had some of the background. But we had never done…..at least I had forgotten….I think getting the groundwork started was a little harder….maybe it’s a little bit our age too….opening up bank accounts, getting names (dot..dot…dot).
What will you see this year? Anderson gives us a bit of a menu that might jog some memories.
AUDIO: On of the events which was new in 2019, which was the last event, was an Escape Room. And we’re going to be bringing that back again. Of course the “Princess Tea Party” has become a capital letter event, and the “Ladies Luncheon is always an early sell out.”
Yes, more volunteers are always needed. Call 217-260-6716 if you are interested.
Festival of Trees will Kick Off at the Palmer Arena on Saturday November 13th.
And by the way, similar to how the Chicago Blackhawks and Bulls always went on the road at the end of the year for the Circus to come to Chicago, well the Vermilion County Bobcats will be hitting the road for the week and a half Festival of Trees is going on, but they’ll be back when it’s all over.
