Nutcracker themed Festival of Trees welcomes all to this holiday highlight

The classic Nutcracker ballet has taken over the Macon Museum of Arts and Science annual Festival of Trees.

The largest fundraiser for the museum is celebrating its 31st year.

Festival of Trees will be on display at the museum on 4182 Forsyth Road until Jan. 14.

The exhibit is a collection of about 30 designer-decorated Christmas trees following the Nutcracker theme.

However, some trees featured in the festival are not necessarily in theme to the Russian ballet.  

“The designer can choose if they go that route,” said Museum Director of Communication Sherry Singleton.

Festival events included a 200-guest luncheon at the museum, a gala at Terminal Station and a children’s event. All events took place earlier in November.

The children's event kicked off the opening of Santa’s Secret Shop, where kids can bring their holiday shopping list and purchase pre-wrapped gifts ranging from $1 to $10.

“It’s all really great quality stuff, not like the Santa shop at school,” Singleton said. “They have a bag of presents ready to go.”

Festival of Trees was originally titled Our Holiday Best, and the designer trees were sold to the community as part of the fundraiser.

“It was a way to celebrate the holidays around the world,” Singleton said.

The event was reformatted when museum officials realized that guests to the museum were not getting to enjoy the exhibit prior to the Christmas holiday because the trees were all sold off.

Today, the trees are not for sale and are available for viewing well after the New Year.

Museum guests are allowed to take holiday family photos in front of the trees as well.

Singleton suggests to those who have never visited the museum to come see this holiday highlight.

“The museum has the perception of being a children’s museum, but it is not,” Singleton said.

She said that fine arts buffs and students come to the museum to sketch. The museum features a substantial collection of fine and decorative arts.  

“The museum is just a fantastic place,” Singleton said.