The Festival of Trees serves as the biggest fundraiser for the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, raising $15,000 last year.
All the gifts up for auction were donated by over 140 donors consisting of businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals in Jasper.
“People were very receptive this year, more so than last year, because people were still recovering from COVID,” said Ann Thomas, one of the organizers.
“This year … they revived their businesses, and they were happy to help.”
Each year, donors decorate their trees or reefs and donate unique prizes to go along with them, which are then put on display.
“If they wanted to do a tree, then we would provide a tree and then everyone does a unique theme,” Thomas said.
“Not everybody has the time or the wherewithal to do a tree, so they'll give us gift cards, they'll give us some product, they'll give us half a dozen pair of socks, that sort of thing, so donations can come in any form.”
Some donors also just donate money directly to the museum.
The online auction has 123 items to bid on, and although the auction is online only, the exhibit will be open for viewing of the items.
“It looks very nice when people walk into the gallery,” Thomas said.
“It's got lots of lights and colour, and there’s lots of lots of neat things to look at.”
In the past, the Festival of Trees was an in-person silent auction, but the museum decided to switch gears when COVID happened and ended up sticking with the online auction.
“We've had great success with that because I believe it reaches more people, and more people have the chance to look at that online and see what particular gifts they want,” Thomas said.
“It's more accessible to everybody, whereas before you'd have to go to the museum, put down your bid and then a few days later go and see if anybody has outbid you and then rebid.”
The exhibit will be open at the museum 10-5 Thursday to Sunday until 3 p.m. Dec. 16, and the online auction will be open until Dec. 16 at .
The Wine and Cheese Reception for the Festival of Trees will also be hosted at the museum on Friday, Dec. 1, from 7-9 p.m.
