Does your Christmas tree have a certain sameness every year? Same balls, same bows, same tangle of lights?
There's nothing wrong with repetition - it's the essence of tradition, after all.
But if you're looking to mix things up, Harris Arts Center in Calhoun, Ga., can give you a jump-start, whether you're simply looking for ideas or you're in the market for a fully decorated tree.
The center's Festival of Trees, which continues through Dec. 10, features 84 Christmas trees, wreaths and baskets available for bids in a silent auction.
Each tree is 5 feet tall, a height chosen for its portability.
"If you win a tree, you can take it home without any trouble, as far as decorations go," explains Executive Director Jennifer Dudley.
The decorations, of course, are what make each tree a standout.
If you go
› What: Festival of Trees.› When: Through Dec. 10.› Where: Harris Arts Center, 212 S. Wall St., Calhoun, Ga.› Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday; by appointment Saturdays.› Phone: 706-629-2599.› Website: www.harrisartscenter.com.
Each year, local businesses, organizations and individual supporters sign on to craft the final products, personalizing as they see fit. Each evergreen is stuffed with an assortment of bangles and baubles - some you might not expect to see on a tree, like a Noah's ark or a steampunk-style metal clock.
"The Disney tree is really popular," Dudley says. "We have a cornhole board. One is a monochromatic white tree. Some are colorful, and some are more elegant. There's a baseball-themed tree. We have a real wide variety."
There are so many to look at, her preferences keep changing.
"I swear I get a personal favorite every week," she says. "I see them every single day, but one day I'll look and say, 'Oh, I love that; I didn't notice that before.'"
This is the 13th year for the Festival of Trees, one of the center's major fundraisers. Proceeds reaped from the silent auction aren't earmarked for any one project, Dudley says, but rather fund ongoing needs.
"We gotta keep the doors open," she says. However the money is spent, it "always goes to keeping the arts alive and well in the community."
Even when the art is a Christmas tree.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.