Santa is on his was to the South Shore. Photo/Barton Health

Denise Sloan Smart, Barton Health

A holiday festival is in the works and the fun begins now. The Barton Foundation is hosting its first “Festival of Trees and Lights” Dec. 3-6 at MontBleu casino in Stateline and the community can join the fun before winter sets in.

Volunteer opportunities abound: Santa’s helpers, children’s face painters, helpers to write letters to Santa, storytellers, concert staff, tree delivery staff and much more are need to make this event a Tahoe tradition.

This family-friendly holiday festival offers something for everyone in South Lake Tahoe and the neighboring communities, as well as for visitors to the area.

The festival will feature hundreds of trees decorated by local designers, nonprofits and schools; visits with Santa Claus; Polar Express rides and story; a special hands-on children’s activity area; a concert with the Cheeseballs; and a community performance stage.

In addition, Barton’s black-tie event, The Gala, will move to Dec. 5.

Proceeds from this year’s “Festival of Trees and Lights” will directly benefit the Barton Community Clinic which provides medical care to our community, especially for those patients without health insurance.

Tree decorating design workshops will soon be scheduled in which the public can also become involved.

Learn more about the “Festival of Tree and Lights” by calling (530) 543.5612 or go to http://www.festivaloftreeslaketahoe.com.