Methuen’s Festival of Trees Begins This Weekend

File photograph. (Image licensed by Ingram Image.)

Methuen’s Festival of Trees is finally here! The annual holiday event kicks off Saturday, Nov. 18 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 2 at 13 Branch Street. Admission is $10.

This year’s event includes more than 240 full- and mini-sized trees, wreaths and holiday displays donated by local residents and businesses to be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $5 for 26 tickets and prizes will be awarded on the final day of the Festival. A cash prize of $5,000 will also be raffled off in a separate drawing.

Santa will also be stopping by the Festival to greet children of all ages.

Organizers are offering complimentary admission for seniors during the Festival’s opening weekend. In keeping with tradition, Wednesday, Nov. 22 will mark Educators’ Day, with teachers receiving a free sheet of raffle tickets with the purchase of one paid raffle ticket. A school ID or Union Card must be presented.

In 2016, 247 trees and wreaths were on display for an annual crowd of 30,000 of spectators from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The Methuen Festival of Trees is open weekdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Festival will have extended hours on Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 12 to 9 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.