Event Moves To New Location for 1st Time in its History with “Storybook Christmas” Theme.

Knoxville TN – The magical sights, sounds, aromas and colors of the holiday season come alive November 27-December 1 at the 18th annual Fantasy of Trees to benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.This year’s festival presents “Once Upon A Time … A Storybook Christmas” and features a variety of new holiday surprises for the entire family combined with favorite attractions that Fantasy of Trees visitors have come to look forward to with every Christmas season.
In addition, several new children’s activities will provide fun for the event’s younger visitors. Kids will love creating their own holiday candles for a one-of-a-kind decoration, while another new children’s activity will let kids handcraft a Santa box into a unique holiday treasure. These new activities join more than a dozen other interactive “fun stations” where children can celebrate the season at Fantasy of Trees, including a snow angel playground, decoration making, face painting, and a special telephone that allows children to talk to the North Pole elves.
Special events are also part of the fun found at the Fantasy of Trees. On the opening day of the festival, a special Babes in Toyland parade at 7 p.m. celebrates the season with a special journey through the Fantasy of Trees, as area pre-schoolers are joined by costumed characters, a marching band, Santa, a “fireworks” finale and more in this special indoor Christmas parade. On Thanksgiving Day, all visitors to the Fantasy of Trees can have a chat with Grandma or another relative on a special toll-free “holiday hotline.”
On Friday, November 29, children and their most special Teddy Bear will want to be part of Fantasy of Trees’ special Teddy Bear Breakfast and Teddy Bear Lunch, where they’ll enjoy a variety of fun activities, a visit with Santa, a Teddy Bear “clinic,” and a delicious meal—all with their favorite fuzzy friend. There is a separate ticket for the Teddy Bear Breakfast and Lunch, and reservations can be made by calling (865) 541-8385. Also on that day, Santa’s Senior Stroll invites seniors to come on Friday morning, November 29 from 9-10 a.m. and enjoy a special one-mile walk through the holiday sights of the event for a special half-price admission.
This year’s theme of “Once Upon a Time … A Storybook Christmas” will highlight classic Christmas memories and storybook characters throughout the entire Fantasy of Trees. Visitors will feel the magic and wonder of Christmas as they marvel at all the beautifully-decorated trees, room scenes, fireplace mantels, garlands, swags, topiaries, door designs, and centerpieces, all created by the imaginative minds of talented people from throughout East Tennessee. Everyone will want to stroll through the spectacular Designer Promenade, featuring more than 175 tree and holiday designs featuring holiday themes ranging from whimsical to traditional to elegant. And the “Adopt A Tree” Forest features dozens of trees decorated just for the event by schools and children’s groups from throughout East Tennessee.
Fantasy of Trees has a variety of attractions that offer fun and enchantment for kids from 1 to 92. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children aged 4-11; children under 4 are admitted free. All proceeds from the Fantasy of Trees benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, which last year served more than 120,000 children from East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southeast Kentucky. For more information about the Fantasy of Trees, call Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services Office at
(865) 541-8385, send an e-mail to fot@etch.com, or visit the hospital’s website at www.etch.com/fantasy.cfm.

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