From a tree built with dozens of size 15 basketball shoes to a rotating display crafted entirely from duct tape, Christmas has arrived in downtown Akron.
Hundreds of volunteers have been spending the week decking the halls at the John S. Knight Center for the 32nd annual Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival.
The annual holiday event, which is expected to draw more than 150,000 visitors, opens to the public Saturday and continues through Dec. 1.
The Akron holiday tradition kicks off with a preview gala tonight, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Kids’ Day festivities beginning a 10 a.m. Saturday.
As in previous years, admission is free.
“I looked on the computer, and we are the only tree festival in the nation that doesn’t charge — and we like it that way,” said Mary Leuca of Akron, chairwoman of this year’s tree festival. “It’s our giveback to the community. People love it.”
The event features 151 full-size Christmas trees decorated in a variety of themes, along with 60 wreaths, many miniature trees and other holiday decorations.
This year’s festival also has an expanded kids’ activity area, complete with “mailboxes” to send letters to Santa and cards to young patients at Akron Children’s.
Area residents, businesses, schools, churches and community groups donate all items. Proceeds from the sale of the trees and other decorations benefit medical research, education and patient-care programs at Children’s.
Since its inception, the tree festival has raised nearly $4.5 million for the pediatric hospital. Last year’s event generated a record $250,000.
Many of the branches bear heart-wrenching stories of patients who have survived against the odds or inspired others in their lives and their deaths.
For a dozen years, Alex Ellesin and her family have decorated a tree to donate to the Holiday Tree Festival in honor of young lives lost.
Her sons, Alexander “Alex,” 3, and Nicholas “Zef,” 5, died in July 2000 when the van she was driving to take them to swimming lessons was struck by a man in a stolen pickup truck who was being chased by police. Another son, William “Willy,” was injured but survived.
Each year, the family places a picture of the two boys next to the tree they donate.
“We do it every year for the boys,” she said. “There’s always hope involved, always knowing God is with us.”
Other trees are created as fun-filled ways to support the hospital and the patients it serves.
The LeBron James Family Foundation donated a tree with about 120 pairs of pricey basketball shoes worn in practices or games by the NBA star and Akron native.
The tree is topped with a “King James” crown and adorned with these words: “Never Forget Where I Came From.”
“Being from Akron, it’s about community events in Akron,” said Michele Campbell, the foundation’s executive director. “He likes to be part of things in Akron, Children’s Hospital being one of them.”
George M. Holcomb of Fairlawn and his daughter Tiffany of Akron spent two years using 70 rows of duct tape to create a rotating tree and entire scene filled with miniature people, a boat, a house, a football stadium and other items.
Words that represent special gifts — memories, love, thanks, believe, forgiveness — are cut out of duct tape and scattered throughout their display.
“We do it for the kids,” she said.
Hours for the festival are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Special Thanksgiving Day hours are 2 to 6 p.m.
For more information about the tree festival, visit www.akronchildrens.org/treefestival.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/abjcherylpowell.