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Medallions and icons from Greece adorn a tree in 2002. The Festivals of Trees are held to benefit various organizations. fp View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Start getting into the Christmas spirit at the Festival of Trees in Fredericksburg or Culpeper

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Start getting into the Christmas spirit at the Festival of Trees in Fredericksburg or Culpeper

By EMILY GILMORE

Date published: 11/18/2004

By EMILY GILMORE

Thanksgiving might be next week, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start getting into the Christmas spirit.

With 37 shopping days left until the big day, there's still plenty of time to buy the gifts, mix the egg nog, mail the cards and put up the tree.

If all these tasks seem a little bit overwhelming, two upcoming events may help get that seasonal decorating out of the way with hardly any effort at all.

Fredericksburg's Hope House and Culpeper's Windmore Foundation for the Arts will each host a Festival of Trees to raise money for the organizations.

Hope House's seventh annual Festival of Trees will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at the Riverside Conference Center in Stafford County. The festival will be open every day through Nov. 30, excluding Thanksgiving.

During the festival, more than 100 trees decked out in holiday finery will be available for purchase by silent auction. Those who make bids may return to track them at no charge.

Some trees will be adorned with religious or traditional Christmas decorations, but visitors also can bid on a Redskins tree, a margarita tree donated by the Rappahannock Area Parrot Head Club, trees with pet or circus themes, or a tree decorated in honor of the movie "Shark Tale," said Tina McCobb, executive director of Hope House.

Area residents, organizations and businesses donate and decorate the trees.

"So many different folks will call to want to do a tree," McCobb said.

Wreaths and centerpieces donated by area garden clubs will be for sale at the holiday gift boutique, and a fashion show and luncheon will take place on Nov. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets for the fashion show will be available until tomorrow by calling Hope House. Tickets are $30 for general seating and $60 for VIP seating, which includes a seat up front, a glass of wine with lunch, a coupon for the gift boutique and a special gift. Both ticket prices include admission to see the trees.

Hope House provides transitional housing for homeless women and their children in Planning District 16, which includes Fredericksburg and Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties.