VILLAGE OF FAYETTEVILLE – The Manlius Historical Society’s annual Festival of Miniature Trees can be viewed at the Towne Center Resort Lifestyle Communities in Fayetteville through Friday, Dec. 8.
The 2023 display of decorated trees was unveiled Friday, Dec. 1 at the retirement facility at 3900 Medical Center Drive and it’s been open to the public for in-person viewing each day since from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All through this past weekend and these last few days, the fundraising festival has operated as a weeklong silent auction to kick off the holiday season.
Leading up to the multi-day event every year, local organizations and area residents fill out information forms and donate personalized miniature trees or holiday wreaths.
Then, on the Facebook page “Manlius Historical Society, Museum, and The Manlius Town Shop,” people can place their bids in the comment sections underneath the up-close pictures of each donated item, but pressing “Like” on the Facebook page is required to participate. Every post mentions the donor, the starting bid and a description of the tree or wreath.
The bidding closes at 5 p.m. Dec. 8. The winners will be whoever wrote the highest bid on each individual post by that time. Winning bidders can pick up their trees either on Friday, Dec. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.
All proceeds from the auction go to the historical society, which seeks to preserve and show appreciation for the history and heritage of Central New York, in particular the villages that make up the town of Manlius.
To each side of the fountain in the main lobby of the retirement community, about 30 trees in all were prominently placed on the tabletops lining the hallways. They’re adorned with such decorations as candy canes, fishing hooks, silver and gold Christmas bulbs, house and church ornaments, a “Thank You For Your Service” banner, and crocheted snowflakes.
The origins of the Festival of Miniature Trees date back roughly 25 years, with the event drawing inspiration from the annual Festival of Trees & Light presented by the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse.
The historical society’s festival had previously taken place at its museum in the village of Manlius, the Cheney House located next door, and the Stickley Furniture showroom in Fayetteville.