LISA HOBBS – News Editor
The Christmas spirit isn’t something that just appears in December, it needs cultivating. Grow yours early with Wonderland of Trees, from Nov. 9-14, at Three Star Mall.
This is the 16th year for the weeklong charitable event presented by Caring Hearts United. It features Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, gingerbread houses, centerpieces, and much more offered via silent auction bidding.
“If you look at a tree and think ‘I’ll never get it to look that way again,’ they are never undecorated,” stated event organizer Dianne Sneed. “After the week ends and the winners are notified, we wrap the trees in plastic. You come by, pick it up, take it home, unwrap it, and you’ve got an instant Christmas tree.”
Among the rules for those who offer trees for the event, decorations must be affixed to the tree to guarantee that they do not fall off during transportation.
Participants are now being accepted.
“Right now, we’re looking at 12 to 15 trees. There are a lot of people who haven’t turned their applications back in, and I know they are going to. We, normally, have 25 to 30 trees. The more the merrier. If you want to participate, let us know.”
Also received thus far are a “good selection of wreaths” and “some beautiful centerpieces,” says Sneed.
For those who aren’t frequent visitors to the mall, the event offers spotters to watch the bid for you.
“If you place your bid and you’d really like that item but you don’t know if you’ll get back to check if someone has outbid you, we have spotters and they will watch the bids for you and they will call you, once you fill out the request form. When they call and you want to be bumped up, they will bump you up. If you don’t, they’ll say ‘thank you for participating’ and not bother you anymore.”
There is also a store, which will be located in the spot previously utilized by Cato’s. Throughout the year, individuals donate various items and shoppers can hunt for deals to begin checking off their Christmas lists.
“We received even more this year than we did last year. We’ve had some really nice things donated to us. Those are cash and carry items.”
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday during the event.
There is also a bake shop. Right before the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving get-togethers, the shop offers homemade items to save you the time and effort of cooking them yourself. Various groups have offered to provide baked goods, so the selection should be delicious.
There will also be two stockings filled with various items. Visitors can donate $5 for a chance to win one. On the last night of the event, a winner will be drawn from the entries and notified.
Entertainment: Monday night, the Silver and Gold Band will perform; Tuesday night is Christmas Trivia; Thursday night, Nolan Campbell will perform; Friday night, Kelly Walker-Slaughter will perform; on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Santa Claus will be available to listen to children’s Christmas wishes; and Saturday night, Beth Harris will be performing.
“If you don’t want to purchase anything, come on out anyway and let this prompt your Christmas spirit,” said Sneed. “The mall is so beautiful during the event. We decorate everything. It’s wonderful to see.”
For more information, call 931-273-4552 or 931-607-9462, or visit ww.caringheartsunited.com or Facebook at Caring Hearts United.