Festival of Trees and Lights

Today Isabelle and I went to the Festival of Trees and Lights!  It is held at the Polk County Convention Complex in downtown Des Moines.  It is the first year I have ever gone and definitely something that is going to become an annual tradition to attend!  If you love Christmas Trees and all the possibilities that go into decorating them, then this is for you. Not to mention the proceeds to go Blank Children's Hospital.  What made today's event extra special was that Kevin was volunteering there for work!  Isabelle was very excited to see daddy and I know it made Kevin's day to have his little girl there! 

Enjoy all the festive pictures!

The main level was the kids area with crafts, ornament and cookie decorating, prizes, train rides, and more.  And Santa was there as well!  Isabelle wasn't so sure about Santa today and did not want to visit him at first.

Checking out her prizes she won in Kevin's booth!

She then made a Christmas tree ornament! (And was also photographed by KCCI news channel 8 while doing so...I wonder if she will make the news!?)

Holding her star ornament she also made!

Isabelle and I then went to the second level for all the trees and vendors!  I took some pictures of my favorites!

This was a Princess Tree.  Isabelle put both of our votes into this one for People's Choice on best tree! 

I loved all the red in this one!

This tree was half Hawkeyes half Cyclone!

Isabelle kept waiving to this little Santa :)

How cute is this!?

Sesame Street Tree!

And Isabelle trying to sneak under the ropes to get to the Barbie tree!

They also have what they call a "Neighborhood Forest".  There are tons of smaller trees decorated that can be big on.  This Disney World one had a current bid of $500.  And that was only bid #2! 

 

Trees of books! 

Next Isabelle enjoyed lunch while watching a choir sing Christmas carols!

A Simba and Cinderella tree!

Bird tree....

And a Beachy Tree!

Isabelle then decorated a gingerbread cookie!

Daddy and his princess.

Checking out Santa before we left.....

When she heard Santa ask another little kid if they wanted a coloring book, she ran over there and wanted to see him (or maybe just grab a coloring book!)

I already cannot wait until next years Festival of Trees!