{Review} Glue Guns & Glitter

Behind the Scenes at Kennedy Krieger's Festival of Trees!

By: Jenny Fortner, www.greeneyedmomma.com

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Jenny Fortner
Santa Claus is coming to Baltimore to kick off the most wonderful time of the year at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual fundraiser, Festival of Trees. The largest holiday themed festival on the East Coast, Festival of Trees will feature decorated trees galore, endless children’s activities and non-stop entertainment from Friday, November 23rd to Sunday, November 25th. A family tradition since 1990, the fairyland forest of more than 600 trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses will transport guests directly to Santa’s North Pole. The highly anticipated holiday extravaganza has something for everyone and is a one-stop-shop for the holiday season.

I was invited to see the designers working behind the scenes as hundreds of trees, gingerbread houses and wreaths were being decorated! I am amazed at how unique each tree truly is, and the skill and artistry that goes into each ornament that is hung with love and care!  I stopped to speak with several of the designers to see how and why, they selected to decorate with: Ravens, Orioles, bake wear, musical instruments, flags, putz houses, or just about any material you can think of! Janet Caslow, of the Baltimore National Heritage Area, grinned from ear to ear and said “I come back every year to see the awe and wonder in the children’s faces, when they look at her tree.”



I then found a large group gathered around a tree that was stunning! I fell in love with the little glitter houses that were lovingly tucked into every tree branch. When I asked what group or business they were with they said, “Just us! We are the Kemp Sisters, and we just love the holidays and what Kennedy Krieger does for the children!” It truly was a family affair, as one sister held a glue gun, one sister was selecting the next putz house,  their mother and several family members were all there to hand them the next element that needed to be added! So, as you are taking photos, considering purchasing a tree, and just soaking in the beauty of a tree; remember the love and work that each designer put into the tree!


Bring your camera for a visit with Santa in SantaLand, purchase a wrist band to enjoy the rides, shop for yourself or your family at the numerous holiday boutiques, look with wonder at the gingerbread houses, and remember to donate your spare change into the wishing wells at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Festival of Trees!

WHAT:  Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Festival of Trees
WHEN:   Friday, November 23 through Sunday, November 25, 2012
  Friday, November 23 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  Saturday November 24 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  Sunday November 25 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cow Palace, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, Maryland
HIGHLIGHTS: 7-foot, 4-foot, and 2-foot trees
  Holiday book readings from Joel D. Smith,  Mary Alice Yeskey, and Santa 
  Live performances from Milkshake
  More than 100 gift boutiques for holiday shopping
  SantaLand, Santa’s ultimate theme park
  Harry Potter Castle
  Santa Letter-writing station
  A chance to win a three-night Disney vacation for four
TICKETS: Admission is $13 for adults and $7 for children ages 5-12 and seniors.
  Children 4 years old and younger are free
  To purchase discounted tickets in advance or learn how to earn free tickets, visit
  www.festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org
INFO:  Festival Line: (443) 923-7300
  Festival Web Site:www.festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org
  Festival of Trees is on Facebook! Log onto
  http://www.facebook.com/KennedyKriegerFestivalofTrees

About Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland serves more than 18,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new inventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.

 *I was not compensated for this review on behalf of Macaroni Kid North West Baltimore. Although we received complementary passes to attend the Festival of Trees, all thoughts and opinions of the event are 100% my own.

*My apologize for posting the wrong name for the amazing putz house tree. The KEMP SISTERS did an amazing job!

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