This year, Embassy Theatre welcomed a record-breaking 25,117 attendees to their 40th annual Festival of Trees, the largest fundraising event for the nonprofit arts and cultural organization.
The winners of the tree decorating festival, as judged by this year’s community judges of artist and public art expert Alex Hall, past Festival of Trees decorator and designer Scott Hermance, and interior designer Laura O’Daniel, were:
- Best DIY Craftmanship: Season of Sustainability, sponsored by Fort Wayne Metals and decorated by Karen Bulmahn and Troy Shady.
- Best Original Design: It’s a Wicked Christmas, sponsored by Poorman’s Heating & Air and decorated by Cindy Friend Design.
- Best Traditional: Sweet Excite-mint, sponsored by Sweetwater and decorated by Kristi Helvie.
- Best Whimsicality: Small Business Is Blooming, sponsored by Rhinestones & Roses Floral & Boutique and decorated by Jentri, Josi, and Jirni.
- Best Wow Factor: Addams Family Christmas, sponsored by Titan Heating and Air and decorated by Heather Zehr.
- Best Theme: A Groovy Kind of Christmas, sponsored by Howard Bailey Financial and decorated by Kim Milentis and Robin Mack.
Each year, festival attendees can vote for their favorite festival trees, which are given the 2024 People’s Choice Awards.
This year’s People’s Choice Award winners were:
- First Place: It’s a Wicked Christmas.
- Second Place: Addams Family Christmas.
- Third Place: Sweet Excite-mint.
Interim leader at First Presbyterian Theater
First Presbyterian Theater took to social media on Dec. 13 to announce the Rev. John Tolley will return to help guide the theater.
As acting minister of drama, Tolley will oversee the remainder of the 2024-25 season while also helping develop the 2025-26 season. He will also help in the search for a permanent minister of drama, a role he filled for 16 years.
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