36th Annual Festival of Trees Returns To Riverside

RIVERSIDE, CA — The Yuletide spirit will come alive Saturday at the Riverside Convention Center, where the 36th annual Festival of Trees will be held, featuring elaborately adorned firs, benefiting a Riverside County charity for children.

The event, hosted by the Riverside University Health System Foundation, will transform the venue into a virtual Christmas forest, bedecked with 60 "designer trees" — each sporting its own unique theme — for visitors to view, touch and photograph.

The fest, a tradition going back to 1989, will be free and open to the public Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. and wrapping up by 8 p.m.

"The Holiday Fair is a wonderful way to kick off the season and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of Christmas," foundation Director Jill Eaton said. "We're looking forward to seeing visitors experience the magic of that day."

More than three dozen area vendors are slated to have booths inside the Convention Center.
Volunteers return each season to set up and decorate each of the nearly eight-foot-tall trees.

The Festival of Trees reverted to in-person celebrations at the downtown Riverside location in 2022.

In 2020, because of the COVID lockdowns, the fest was all-virtual, and in 2021 it was outdoors, relocated to Rancho Jurupa Regional park in Jurupa Valley.

"The festival is a powerful reminder that, behind each tree and each light, is a journey of strength and resilience," said Stanbridge University CEO Yasith Weerasuriya, the gala's leading sponsor. "We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner in extending compassionate care and hope to every patient and family."

A variety of activities are planned, catering to visitors of all ages as they stroll around the trees, according to organizers. Funds generated by the fest are dedicated to pediatric and neonatal intensive care programs.

The event coincides with the first week of the 33rd annual Festival of Lights downtown.

More information is available at ruhsfoundation.org/.