By MATT LINDSEY

OGDENSBURG -- The Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Auxiliary is hosting its 12th Festival of the Trees on Dec. 5 at Oddfellows, corner of State Highway 37 and Linden Street.

Daytime events include a hollyberry craft sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., “once-loved” Christmas sale, live wreaths and kissing balls, gift basket silent auction, viewing of decorated Christmas trees and lottery tree and homemade quilt raffles.

There will be around 35 trees to bid on this year which is up slightly from last year, according to Ramona Kennedy of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.

This is the hospital’s biggest fundraiser of the year and Kennedy says they would “like to raise $40,000.” The most the event ever raised was $49,000 and a little over $300,000 has been raised since 2007, Kennedy said.

“All of the money comes back to the hospital in one way or another for things like equipment and renovations,” Kennedy said.

Trees are sponsored by local businesses and organizations who then decorate them in a theme of their own choosing. Past themes have including Crayola, Elf on a Shelf, Hello Kitty and Winter Wonderland and Trees come with gifts usually tying into the decorations.

“Frozen has been popular…but each tree was done different and was unique,” she said. “Some like to keep it a surprise.”

New sponsors include Fidelis and Carrothers & Clough law firm.

New this year will be a memory tree.

The tree is in memory of Patricia “Peg” LaVigne who was “heavily involved in the “Festival of the Trees,” Kennedy said. She passed away earlier this year. The cost is $2 to have a loved ones name added to the tree.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and children’s activities will go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission to evening events is $15 and will include a Christmas tree auction. Later events also include more tree viewing and gift basket silent auctions, and lottery tree, homemade quilt and 50/50 raffles.

“There will be about 60 to 65 gift baskets to bid on,” Kennedy said.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the auction slated for 8 p.m.

Complementary hors d’oeuvres, desserts and coffee will be provided. There will also be a cash bar.

“I am excited to see all the new themes and check out the creativity that people have come up with,” Kennedy said.