Gingerbread houses to frame up Festival of Trees in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — The 28th annual Festival of Trees will be presented with a sweet centerpiece during the Family Days on Saturday and Sunday.

Twelve gingerbread houses will be positioned front and center at the Vern Burton Community Center, located at 308 E. Fourth St., in Port Angeles, said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, which organizes the event as a fundraiser for the hospital.

“The only place that people will be able to see them is at Family Days on Saturday and Sunday, and not at any other of the festival events,” Skinner said.

The largest gingerbread house that will be displayed is still a work in progress, but is close to 3 feet tall.

Renee Ochs, Marie Finta and Mollie Dahl said they have been working on the tasty sculpture, which sits on a 60-inch-by-48-inch base, for about two weeks and have spent many late nights on the house.

Fifty-three trees decorated by area designers and sold with special gifts called premiums will be auctioned off at Friday night’s Festival of Trees Gala. The trees and 80 wreaths will be on view Saturday and Sunday during Family Days.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 360-417-7144 or by going to the OMC Foundation office at 1015 Georgiana St., Port Angeles.

Here is the schedule and prices:

Friday

• 10 a.m. and noon — Teddy Bear Teas for parents and children; $12 each or $250 for a VIP table of 10.

The Teddy Bear Teas is sold out.

• 5:30 p.m. — Festival of Trees Gala, sponsored by Sequim Health and Rehabilitation; buffet dinner, tree auction and silent auction; $105 each. Tickets for the Gala were still available Monday.

Saturday

• 8:30 a.m. — Senior Breakfast, a sit-down breakfast sponsored by The Lodge at Sherwood Village, The Fifth Avenue and Sherwood Assisted Living; $12 for adults. Limited tickets will be available at the door.

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Family Days; public viewing of decorated trees and wreaths, musical entertainers, photos with Santa and children’s activity areas. $7 each, children younger than 8 free.

Sunday

• 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Family Days; public viewing of decorated trees and wreaths, musical entertainers, photos with Santa and children’s activity areas. $7 each, children younger than 8 free.

For more information, call the foundation office at 360-417-7144.