Why do I decorate Christmas trees? Someone once gave me a very simple answer to that question: “Well, you decorate Christmas trees because you like it.” I have thought about that for a long time, and for me, there is more to it.
When I started decorating trees, we had a special needs daughter. She had many illnesses, and the stress from her seizures and intense care was taking its toll on me. So, I decided to decorate a tree for the local charity in Millard County. It helped me feel less sad, and soon I was hooked. I decorate trees not necessarily because I like it, but rather because it keeps me busy and I think less about myself and more about the spirit of Christmas.
My name is Minnie Hughes, and I started the Panguitch Festival of Trees with Becky Dalton in 2016, now called the Garfield Festival of Trees. This year, we are celebrating our 7th season. We have come a long way from when we first started. We now have committee members, decorators and donors who volunteer from year to year!
We chose Panguitch as the location for the festival because it is the county seat and the largest town in our county as well as central for the Piute County people who participate and the eastern side of Garfield County people to attend. We use the county fair building and decorate it bringing the holiday spirit with the decorations.
Through decorating Christmas trees, I have had many fun experiences and seen many amazing talents. I have also had the amazing opportunity to help others in need.
Because of you and your donations, we have helped purchase baby monitors, new baby cribs, new carpet for the hospital, along with art, TVs, furniture and a new X-ray arm. (The X-ray arm is for patients that can’t be moved.) We have also raised money for the mammography trailer and so much more.
I have grown to love organizing and celebrating the Festival of Trees in Panguitch. This activity has become something the local people of Panguitch look forward to, and I hope that you will join us this year on November 17th-18th, 2023, as we work to raise money for Garfield Memorial Hospital with yet another Festival of Trees.
– by Minnie Hughes
Feature image caption: Some members of the festival committee pose in front of the Christmas trees.
Read about the 2024 Festival of Trees in High School Trees Raise Almost 2K for Garfield Memorial Hospital.