SALT LAKE CITY—Bring the whole family out to experience the wonder and awe of the 53-year tradition, Festival of Trees Nov. 29 – Dec. 2. Walk the aisles of the Mountain America Expo Center to enjoy the twinkling of a half million lights adorning more than 500 trees donated and decorated by volunteers. The event is presented by the Intermountain Foundation.

Proceeds from the Festival go to support Primary Children’s Hospital and to give care to those children in need. It is part of Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise to create the nation’s model health system for children.

Many trees are dedicated to family and friends who are patients at Primary Children’s Hospital or have been. Others are decorated around a specific theme. In addition to the trees, there are hand-crafted wreaths, gingerbread houses, nativities, quilts and more. Visitors can also enjoy live music, dance performances and food. Santa Claus will be on hand as well.

A silent auction to purchase trees and other items is available at FestivalofTreesUtah.org from 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28 through 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Other fun Festival facts include:

• Volunteers have donated 5,000 pounds of fudge in 51 flavors.
• Volunteers have created approximately 100 wreaths.
• The Festival of Trees raised $3.1 million in 2022 to support patient care at Primary Children’s Hospital and new, innovative ways to expand that expertise and help children in more communities through Intermountain’s Primary Promise.

Afu Fiefia is one of those children. He is a teen athlete and a champion for the Festival of Trees. Primary Children’s Hospital shares his story:

“When he was 14, Afu had pain in his lower leg that didn't go away. An MRI showed a rare form of bone and soft tissue cancer called Ewing sarcoma. Afu started chemotherapy at Primary Children’s Hospital right away. He has been through many different treatments and is in remission for a second time. 

Afu says he wondered why this cancer happened to him. But when he saw how his family and other people responded, he thought, maybe it’s to bring people closer together, strengthen his faith and deepen his family’s bond.”

The Festival of Trees is a way to raise funds for children like Afu and others like him. 

The event runs Wednesday, Nov. 29 – Friday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Mountain America Exposition Center is located at 9575 State St, Sandy, UT 84070.