Festival of Trees Winner Announced

Main Street Toccoa announces the winner of the Festival of Trees.

The 9th annual Festival of Trees took place this past weekend in the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

This year’s winning tree belonged to Valley Farm at Toccoa Falls College, whose tree raised money for the Food 2 Kids program in Stephens County.

It received the most $1 votes over the course of two days and will get the $500 grand prize.

Main Street Toccoa Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby said that the city appreciates all of those who entered this year’s Festival of Trees.

“Through the votes on the trees, they brought in over $500 for our local charities and then of course, there will be another $500 that will be added for the group represented by the most popular tree, so that is over $1,000 that will be donated to various charities and non-profits in our community,” said Crosby. “We are real excited. We are thankful for each one of the different businesses that took the time to put up a tree.”

Other groups participating this year were; Deborah’s Magic Mirror for Meals on Wheels, City of Toccoa for Stephens County 4-H Club, Stephens County Government for Open Arms Clinic, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce for Neighbors 4 Neighbors, Toccoa-Stephens County Literacy Council for the Literacy Council, First Alliance Church for the Salvation Army, 1st Franklin Financial for Reins for Life, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group for Power House for Kids, and Toccoa Rotary Club for Coins for Alzheimer.

Each group receives the money it raised through its votes to go towards its designated non-profit.

The Food 2 Kids program, sponsored by the winning Valley Farm at TFC tree, aims to bridge the weekly weekend hunger gap by providing free sacks of child friendly and child specific foods that are easy to open, nutritious, and do not require any cooking, to school children in need.

Crosby said the event went very well and they hope to have even more trees next year.