Festival of Trees 2018

This year’s Festival of Trees was an overwhelming and unprecedented success! Over 2,800 people attended and REF raised over $30,000 in profits which will go directly toward 2019 Teacher Grants. Without the support from local businesses, school and community groups, individuals and volunteers, our festival would not be possible. Together we have made this  entertaining and rewarding holiday tradition a key fundraiser benefiting Reading’s students!

A special thank you to: our event sponsor the Reading Rotary Club; our weekend sponsors: Bertucci’s of Reading and Pamplemousse; and our entertainment and craft sponsors: RSM US LLP, the Ternullo Team, J&B Crosby, Karen Janowski and Mike Foley.

In addition, much appreciation for: Sartell Electric for lighting; Bertucci’s in Reading for the pizza and dinner fare; the Woburn Showcase Cinema and Reading IMAX for donating popcorn; Professors Market for the delicious desserts; Reading Stop & Shop for donating cookie frosting; the Reading Rotary Club for donating candy and cotton candy, and staffing the food booth; Creative Arts for card making station and evening singalong; Lauren Bennett for our festive posters and logos; Reading Cooperative Bank for the water; Reading Facilities Department, Parker Middle School  and the Custodial crew for the space, electrical technology and support; the Reading Public Library for helping to promote our event; all our wonderful volunteers–students and adults alike; and of course, our beloved Silent Auction & Tree donors (see a complete listing at the end of this post).

This year we focused on local entertainment, and had a fabulous array of adult and youth musicians, singers and story-tellers. A heartfelt thanks to our adult performers: Reading Community Concert Band, the Colonial Chorus Players, Voices of Hope choral group, and singer Taylor Hilliard; and for the wonderful performances from our inspiring youth: CBTween/Ben Mini, RMHS Color Guard, RMHS Select Chorus, RMHS Jazz Band, Coolidge Hand Chime Choir, Middle School Jazz Band, Middle School Select Chorus, the Coolidge Flute Trio, Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble, and Claire and Charlie Benjamin Harp and Oboe Duo. Last but not least, thank you to our favorite storyteller, Eileen Litterio.

We could not have done it without you and all the support from this community!

Winning Trees

FAVORITE TREE: Reading Embraces Diversity (first time at the festival!)

MOST CREATIVE TREE: Tin Bucket

MOST SPECTACULAR: Reading Education Foundation

BEST UNDER TREE DISPLAY: The Rzepka Family

BEST TREE TOPPER: The Tompkins Family

Tree Donors

Aines • Alive & Well Chiropractic • Bankovich Family • Barbara and Joe Casarano• Barrows PTO • Birch Meadow Student Council • Bonazoli Family • Bourque and Kinney Families • Bourque Family • Bova Family • Bowers Family 

Calista, Caroline, Emma, Jules & Quinn • Connect The Tots • Coolidge Middle School Music Department • Creative Arts • Department of Children & Families • DiSerio Family • DKJ Foundation/Lee Kimball • Dumas & Bourque Families • Dumas Family • Elite Freestyle Karate of Reading • Evergreen Florist • Everything But The Dog • Friends of Mrs. W • Friends of Reading Recreation • Gallegos Family • Gould Family • Grace Chapel-Reading Life Community • Heroux Family • Hilliard Family • Joshua Eaton Student Council • Kay Lash • Killiam PTO 

Kysa Lovvoll & Cross Country Mortgage • Lori Foley • Meadowbrook Golf Club • Mission of Deeds • Mrs. Cristi’sHomeroom • MOMS Club of Reading • Nichols, Wall & Wolter Families • O’Brien Family • O’Neill Family • Parker Art Department •  Parker Music Department • Parker PTO • PDA Dental • Peirce Family • Pine Ridge Neighborhood • RCTV • Reading 375 • Reading Co-Op • Reading Education Foundation • Reading Embraces Diversity • Reading Girl Scout Brownie Troop 62778 • Reading Independent Video Club • Reading Orthodontics • Reading Public Library • Reading School Committee & Central Office •  Reading Softball Little League (RSLL) • Reading Youth Hockey • Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce

RISE PTN • RMHS Art Club & Sculpture Classes •  RMHS Choral Department • RMHS Drama Club • RMHS Marching Band • RMHS PTO • RMHS Robockets • RMHS TV Production Class • Roman Music Therapy • Rzepka Family • Samantha’s Harvest •  Sassy Paws Social Good • Saturday Night Lights • Strive Fitness • Taylor Hilliard • Tin Bucket • Tompkins Family • Tread • True North Reality • Women’s League • Wood End PTO  • Wood End Staff • Yatsuhashi  Family 

Silent Auction Donors

A friend of REF • Bobbie Botticelli • Calaresos • Dicara’s • Dieselman Family • Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home • GilburgFamily • Harrows Hitching Post • Laschis • Lovvoll Family • Nelson Family • Northeast School of Ballet • Pamplemousse • RCTV • Reading Gymnastics • The Chocolate Truffle • Wetmore Family