Bel Air's Festival of Trees Kicks Off Holiday Season

The Bel Air Armory will be filled this weekend with a host of firs decorated for the season during the Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance.

Local organizations decorated the trees, which range from miniature to 7 feet tall and will be auctioned off throughout the weekend.

The entire armory will be transformed into a holiday wonderland for the event, featuring gingerbread houses, trees and crafts. The festival is now in its eighth year, and new in 2013 is an array of everlasting wreaths. 

The Festival of Trees will be unveiled during an adults-only "Wine Down" preview party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29. Beer and wine, live music, a silent auction and hors d'oeuvres will be on tap at this event, where organizers encourage people to unwind from their Black Friday shopping. Tickets are $20 in advance (sold at Preston's Stationery) or $25 at the door.

Thirteen restaurants will be donating food for Friday's party, providing a "taste of Bel Air," organizers told the Harford County Liquor Control Board. They said there would be 65 trees and 30 wreaths on display in addition to 16 gingerbread houses.

Saturday and Sunday present more of a family affair, with activities like face painting, a puppet show, story time with Mrs. Claus (11 a.m. Saturday), Irish dance performance (2 p.m. Saturday) and a magic show (1 and 2 p.m. Sunday).

Admission to the festival is $6. Children under 12 years of age are free. Trees will be auctioned off through 3 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds go to the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance and its Cancer LifeNet program, which provides services through Upper Chesapeake for cancer patients and their families.

The Festival of Trees will be held at the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37 N. Main St., Bel Air. Hours are 5–8 p.m. on Friday (adults only), 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Sunday.