As a child, you impatiently waited to open your holiday presents. You imagined what was hidden in those boxes, underneath the neatly trimmed, shimmering wrapping paper you desperately wanted to rip into. And sure enough, you were filled with elation when you finally unboxed the mystery.

The same feelings of curiosity and enthusiasm await people attending the Providence Festival of Trees. Beyond the doors of the Medford Armory lies a wondrous holiday world just begging to be explored by guests of all ages.

A decades-long holiday tradition

Providence Festival of Trees is celebrating its 32nd year in 2023. Since its inception, the festival has raised over $11 million to benefit the programs and services of Providence Medford Medical Center, according to Kyndra Irigoyen, associate philanthropy officer for the Providence Community Health Foundation.

Beloved by the community, thousands of people have enjoyed holiday activities at the Festival of Trees over the years. Akin to walking into a real-life snow globe, the festival brings the joy of the season to life.

During the event, festival goers enjoy the fabulously adorned trees of all sizes — which are decorated by local community members. Kids bring their toys to the teddy bear hospital, where “patients” receive “beary” good care, or take pictures with Santa. Additionally, there’s live entertainment throughout the weekend, including local dancers and choir singers.

For the adults, a gala dinner and auction is held prior to the weekend festivities, said Irigoyen. Guests have the opportunity to bid on the beautifully decorated trees and enjoy a night of luxurious food and fun.

Raising funds to help the community

Proceeds from the Festival of Trees benefit the Providence Community Health Foundation, and each year the funds serve a specific need. Last year, the proceeds went toward Providence’s behavioral health programs.

The money raised from the Festival of Trees directly impacts the community by creating services to help more people. According to Irigoyen, Providence was able to start two new programs last year.

The first was a patient advocate program where a specialist worked with pregnant mothers. When women required assistance with mental health issues, substance abuse problems or housing challenges, the advocate counseled these mothers and guided them to the appropriate resources.

So often, the mental and emotional parts of childbirth are overlooked. But they are equally as important as the pregnancy and birth. When a mother is well-cared for, they are better equipped to provide a stable and loving environment for their child.

“It was a missing link in our clinic,” she said. “The position is 100% funded through philanthropic efforts because insurance doesn’t cover these services.”

The second program was Better Outcomes Through Bridges, affectionately known as “BOB”. Through this program, an advocate worked with “frequent flyers” who came through the emergency room on numerous occasions.

The advocate determined why these people were coming — and returning — to the emergency room. The goal was to connect these people to the proper resources and ultimately reduce their number of visits to the ER. This removed some of the workload from the doctors and nurses, which gave them the time and resources to help more patients.

To date, the Festival of Trees continues to be successful for Providence.

“Last year we raised around $475,000,” said Irigoyen. “But prior to COVID it was closer to $700,000, so we’re still trying to regain that momentum.”

During the pandemic, the festival had to pivot and do things differently. But now, people are attending in-person events and volunteering again.

“People are excited to come back,” she said. “We held a virtual event for two years. As a hospital, we wanted to keep people safe while still bringing them a fun and interactive experience.”

Additionally, Irigoyen is grateful for the sponsors who have made the Festival of Trees a successful community event for over 30 years.

Southern Oregon Subaru has been a supporter of Providence since the mid-1990s and involved with the festival since 2007, according to Irigoyen. The dealership has also partnered with SOHumane and sponsored their tree.

“SoHumane’s tree is always a favorite among festival-goers because of the cute animal-themed ornaments.”

Celebrating the holidays

The Festival of Trees is a beloved holiday celebration where the community gathers to view the trees, children share their lists with Santa, and people enjoy a wealth of holiday cheer.

This year, Providence has added another event — Christmas in July. The new event will kick off the festivities and is perfect for anyone who loves to celebrate the holidays all year long.

More Information

Save the dates

Gala Dinner and Auction: Wednesday, November 29

Public Viewing: Saturday and Sunday, December 2-3

For more information, visit the Providence Festival of Trees website

Christmas in July will feature summer- and fall-themed wreaths, silent auction packages and the opportunity for everyone to give in support of Providence. The online silent auction will be held July 7-17, 2023.

The holidays are a time of togetherness — to celebrate love, compassion and kindness. It’s when everyone’s inner child emerges to partake in the wonder, mystery and exhilaration of the holidays. During the Festival of Trees, the community gathers with their loved ones and shares in the jubilation of the season.