All that glitters

COEUR d’ALENE — It’s enough to get the biggest Grinch feeling festive.

That’s what Kootenai Health Foundation President Cara Nielsen quipped Friday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, where almost two dozen lavishly decorated Christmas trees twinkled and glowed, waiting for the public to arrive.

“The wow factor is just over the top this year,” Nielsen said.

The trees were designed and decked out for the 35th Festival of Trees, benefiting the Kootenai Health Foundation.

Each has a unique theme and gifts to match, from vacation and fine dining packages to a 17-foot, handcrafted wooden canoe that has floated rivers in Idaho, Washington and Tennessee.

“People put a lot of thought and care into their creations,” Nielsen said. Then she grinned. “And blood, sweat and tears.”

Buyers will bid on the trees in a live auction at today’s gala and in a silent action that remains open until 9:15 p.m. tonight. One winner will receive the glittering, silver “Christmas at Midnight” tree in a raffle.

Shari Uptmor placed the finishing touches Friday on her team’s display, “Memories in the Making.” Three miniature trees showcase unforgettable experiences included with the display: seven days in a beachfront condo in Hawaii, a river jet boat tour in White Bird and a day at Silverwood Theme Park.

Uptmor said the display began with a modest budget, so she and her friends had to carefully plan how they would decorate the trees. The businesses that donated the experiences brought the display’s value to more than $8,000, she said.

For Uptmor, the most valuable part of the display is her own memories of it.

“Putting it together with five great girlfriends was a memory in itself,” she said.

Each tree is a different vision of holiday magic, from the classic to the rustic to the whimsical. The “Peppermint Candy Lane” display features a with a 9-foot tree bedecked in frosted pinecones, shimmering snowflakes and scarlet flowers. Nearby, “Silver Bells and Carousels” is an enchanting scene in silver, gold, white and pastel pink, complete with a carousel horse.

Nielsen said the Festival of Trees gives the community an opportunity to come together in a fun, festive setting to support one of its most important facets: its health.

“I am consistently overwhelmed with gratitude at the generosity of our community,” she said. “This year, our volunteers and tree decorators went above and beyond to create a magical experience.”

Info: kh.org/festival

    Kootenai Health Foundation President Cara Neilsen took a turn on Santa’s throne Friday, as volunteers put the finishing touches on the Festival of Trees displays.
  

    A close up of “Silver Bells and Carousels,” one of the Festival of Trees displays.
  

    Tree displays incorporate props and decorations in order to create festive scenes.
 

    It’s a winter wonderland at the “Peppermint Candy Lane” display.