Everything you need to know about Akron Children’s 43rd annual Holiday Tree Festival

Christmas is all about surprises.

Sometimes pleasant and sometimes very, very unexpected.

And to the dozens of Santa’s elves who were busy this week helping create the magic for Akron Children’s 43rd annual Holiday Tree Festival, which begins Saturday and runs through Nov. 24 at the John S. Knight Center in the downtown Akron, it was a race to finish.

The decorations and lighting had to match the 165 decorated trees, 80 wreaths and 155 gifts that will be on display at the free event.

But all those months of planning and putting together the decorations for the perfect holiday piece weren’t without drama.

Missing pieces of tree.

Lights that just wouldn’t twinkle.

And in the case of volunteers from Synthomer Chemical in Akron, the worst possible noise as they worked to straighten the top of their Lorax-themed tree.

“SNAP!”

The top of the fanciful tree had come loose.

But just like at the Akron plant, where they work on research and development for the global chemical company, it was time to strategize and solve problems.

The volunteers discussed possible solutions.

Everything from tape to braces to prayers was all on the table.

And in the end, Christmas was saved – even though the legendary Dr. Seuss character might be a little shorter now.

All trees at the event raise awareness and will be sold to raise money for Akron Children’s patient care programs, education and research. Each tree is also unique.

In the case of the Lorax tree, Synthomer employees spent months planning and creating just the right look and color scheme for the tree.

“We all love doing this,” said Sonya Varga, a chemical engineer.

The love of creating something magical and helping a place like Children’s that has touched and helped so many Greater Akron families is what keeps many volunteers and businesses coming back year after year.

This is Patty Hoover’s 15th year being a part of the Tree Festival and helping to spread some Christmas cheer for Nichols Fence in Tallmadge by making a tree.

But her roots with the festival go much deeper.

She remembers attending the festival as a child and the wonder and holiday spirit it brought to the community.

And those cherished family memories are part of the reason that — aside from helping raise money for the hospital that impacted her own family — she continues to come every year, with a new tree each time.

“The least we can do is give back,” Hoover said.

What makes the Akron event not only in existence since 1982 but also unique is that it was one, if not the last, free-to-enter tree festival in the country, said festival chairwoman Mary Leuca.

Planning for the event begins in February, she said, and every year it seems to get bigger and brighter.

Over the years, the Holiday Tree Festival has raised more than $7.3 million for Akron Children’s Hospital. Last year the festival raised more than $310,000.

And no two years or two trees are the same.

This year there are nine Nutcracker-themed trees and five different Grinch-inspired trees.

“Every year is a little different,” Leuca said. “I always say it can’t get any better, and it always does.”

When is Akron Children’s 43rd Annual Holiday Tree Festival?

The event kicks off Friday with a sold-out gala at the John S. Knight Center at 77 E. Mill St. in downtown Akron.

The free festival with children’s activities, live performances and Santa Claus will officially open to the public on Saturday.

The hours are:

• Saturday November 16: 10am – 8pm

• Sunday November 17: 11am-6pm

• Monday November 18: 11am – 8pm

• Tuesday, Nov 19: 11am-8pm

• Wednesday, November 20: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m

• Thursday, November 21: 11 a.m.-8 p.m

• Friday November 22: 11am-8pm

• Saturday November 23: 10am – 8pm

• Sunday November 24: 11am – 6pm

For more information about the Holiday Tree Festival, visit https://www.akronchildrens.org/treefestival or call the volunteer department at 330-543-8424.

This article originally appeared in Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Children’s 43rd annual Holiday Tree Festival kicks off this week