Light Still Shines at Festival of Trees

Despite the annual Christmas tree display at Westford Regency being downsized this year, the light of celebration is not dimmed. The Festival of Lights marks its 12th year of providing spectacle and artistry to all who visit the weeklong, 24-hour event inside the hotel’s main lobby.

Both the number of trees–as well as wreaths and other thematic pieces–and the number of visitors is, like most of the world’s well-intentioned cultural norms, dramatically lower as a result of COVID-19. According to primary organizer Patti Mason, the usual amount of entrants is about thirty.

This year, about a dozen civic groups and local businesses have contributed to the show. And, as always a friendly competition is afoot for the popular favorite. Ballots are available for visitors to vote on the best one. Even the criteria is subjective: visual beauty, uniqueness, social messaging or whatever aspect of a particular exhibit grabs you.

There are also some edible displays like the side-by-side gingerbread villages made entirely of savory sweets. The creative tasty-treat-towns were produced by Westford Girl Scout Troops 82690 & 62693. The villages are treats and some trees are huggable, like the stuffed-animal arrangement that is both cuddly and Christmasy.

The normal practice of raffling the decorative poinsettias after the festival will remain as a steadfast feature of the event. Visitors who fill their name onto a slip of paper can enter the free raffle in hopes to win one of the potted poinsettias setting about the expansive, well-appointed entryway.

It is one-stop shopping to view, vote, mingle and possibly win.