Living in the OC: Celebration of Trees lights up library.

Janet Schultz decorates for the Celebration of the Trees at the Shelby Area District Library.

Living in the OC: Celebration of Trees lights up library.

#OceanaCountyNews #Shelby

Living in the OC’ is sponsored by Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart), www.springsteadlaw.com.

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

Emilee Best puts the finishing touches on a holiday display.

SHELBY — The Friends of the Shelby Area District Library are busily preparing for the 22nd Annual Celebration of the Trees set for Thursday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 4.

The four-day festivity, which includes a silent auction of beautifully-decorated Christmas trees and other handmade holiday decor, a Christmas bazaar, and live holiday entertainment, is a big fundraiser for the library. “Everything is donated,” said event Coordinator Cindy McKinnon. “It is all to profit the library.”

Ten live trees were donated by local farms, Sallgren’s and Dykstra Orchard, McKinnon said. Six live wreaths were donated by Many Blessings Market and Smith’s Evergreens. There are several “life-like” trees as well. Each tree is decorated in its own theme, such as a whimsical Wizard of Oz tree created by MaryAnn Carey. There are more than 50 displays up for bidding.

It was like Santa’s Workshop Wednesday during “Decorating Day,” as library friends set up the trees and decorations. “Everyone has been doing this for years,” McKinnon said. “It’s usually the same people. We would like to see more people get involved.”

A key decorator is Emilee Best, whose creative touch comes in handy not only for tree decorations but also repurposing the many holiday donations provided for the bazaar. “She is an artist extraordinaire,” McKinnon said. The bazaar takes place in the library’s adjacent space, which previously was the village council room. The village offices are now located downtown. The bazaar portion of the event is in its third year.

Celebration hours are Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bidding ends Sunday at 3 p.m. Christmas music will be performed by Shelby High School band and choral members, Lydia Seaver, Tuesday Tanner, Guy Clements, Mike Snell, Greg Bouse and Judy McGovern.

Friends of the Library President Leon Ballast placed signs all over the county, advertising the big event. Last year, the celebration raised $4,000. “He’s our secret weapon behind all the fundraisers,” McKinnon said.

The library friends also host a successful “A Little Chair-ity” event every other year in July that involves local artists repurposing child-size chairs into gorgeous works of art that are up for silent auction bidding.

McKinnon suggests that bidders be present during the final hour of the tree celebration, which is from 2-3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact McKinnon at 231-861-6453 or call the library at 231-861-4565. Visit the library’s website, www.shelbylibrary.org, for more details.