Two full days of activities, including talent and dance contests and a tea party with Miss Kansas, are planned for the third Festival of Trees at the Flinthills Mall.
The event is presented by the mall, the Emporia Brown Express Athletic Club, and the Emporia State University Bonner Leadership Program.
All proceeds go to the ESU General Academic Scholarship Fund, according information from Gilbert Rodriguez of the Brown Express.
The festival will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6, in the mall at 1632 Industrial Road.
D.C. Sounds will provide music on both days, with pinatas and free prize drawings also scheduled. Corky the Hornet from ESU also will also be present, as well area food vendors.
On Dec. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m., little girls can attend a Princess Tea Party with Miss Kansas, Becki Ronen. At 2 p.m., Ronen will play the National Anthem on her trumpet.
The remainder of the afternoon, from 2 to 6 p.m., will be a talent contest open to all ages, with the winner receiving $100 in cash and trophies and plaques awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners.
The following day, a dance contest for all ages is planned from 2 to 6 p.m. The dance winner also will receive $100 in cash, with trophies and plaques going to first, second and third places.
Sponsors for the plaques and trophies are Flint Hills Laser Expressions, Landon Dody, and the Brown Express.
Special guests on Dec. 6 will be the Azteca Mexican Dance Group Troop from Newton.
Rodriguez said that other special guests are trying to work appearances at the festival into their schedules.
A silent auction for all categories of decorated Christmas trees will be open from Dec. 6 through 9.
For information about the events or about decorating a tree for the silent auction, call 342-4631 or e-mail fhmevents@cableone.net. Trees will be furnished to the first 25 individuals or groups who commit to decorating trees.
Flinthills Mall and others involved in the festival will have a float entered in the Christmas Parade on Tuesday, and plans are to sell chili in front of Laser Expressions, 912 Commercial St., during the parade. The chili will be furnished by entrants in a chili contest that is affiliated with the Festival of Trees.
Co-sponsors of the event are the ESU Memorial Union Corp., Flint Hills Laser Expressions, Riverside Gardens, Navrat’s Office Products, Emporia State Federal Credit Union, the ESU Admissions Department and Emporia Main Street.