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Festival of Trees welcomes one of world’s top-ranked choruses

By Staff | Nov 24, 2010

SPECIAL TO THE NEIGHBOR The Spirit of the Gulf chorus will entertain holiday revelers at Goodwill s Festival of Trees on Saturday, Nov. 27.

For the second straight year, visitors to the Festival of Trees will be entertained by one of the world’s top-ranked women’s choruses. The Spirit of the Gulf chorus will entertain holiday revelers at Goodwill’s Festival on Saturday evening, Nov. 27, as part of the Fort Myers River District’s Holiday Stroll celebration.

The Spirit of the Gulf is a 150-member a cappella chorus based in Fort Myers. This October, they finished sixth at the Sweet Adelines International Championships in Seattle.

Nov. 27 will be a busy day for the Spirit of the Gulf. That morning, the chorus will perform as the opening act for the Rockettes at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall before bringing their show to the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center for the Festival of Trees and Holiday Stroll.

At the Festival of Trees, the Fort Myers-based women’s chorus will sing at 7 p.m. before and after the lighting of the Art Center Christmas tree. The tree-lighting ceremony is part of the Fort Myers River District s Holiday Stroll celebration.

In just three years, the Festival of Trees has become one of Southwest Florida’s premiere holiday events. Last year, more than 4,000 people visited the annual showcase, which is hosted by the Southwest Florida Goodwill Foundation.

More musical entertainment is scheduled for the Festival on Friday, Dec. 3. The Southwest Florida Handbell Ensemble will perform during the Fort Myers Art Walk.

The Festival of Trees starts on Friday, Nov. 26 and continues through Friday, Dec. 3 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (2301 First Street, Fort Myers). The free, family friendly event features more than two dozen lavishly decorated holiday trees, which are decorated by area businesses, decorators, artists, and other individuals. This year’s decorators include Robb & Stucky, Fort Myers Floral Design, and Miss Lucy’s House of Holidays.

This year’s festival also will feature a Children’s Workshop during the opening weekend. For a $5 fee, kids will create holiday crafts, write letters to Santa, decorate cookies, play holiday games, and enter a coloring contest, among other activities. The Children’s Workshop will be open Friday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 28.

The festival culminates in the glamorous black-tie Tux and Trees gala on Saturday, Dec. 4. At that time, the trees will be auctioned off in an exciting live auction. Tickets to the Gala are $100 per person, and proceeds benefit the Southwest Florida Goodwill Foundation.

For more information about the Festival of Trees or the Tux and Trees Gala, including volunteering, ticket sales, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.tuxandtrees.com, or call 239-995-2106 ext. 249.