Festival starts holiday season

The 10th annual Festival of Trees to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley opened its doors Friday for a 13-day run at a space on the Shops at The Patios at Westfield Valencia Town Center.

The festival is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season in the Santa Clarita Valley, said Ronda Chobanian, director of the Boys & Girls Club Foundation.

A steady stream of visitors on Friday viewed more 30 elaborately decorated trees, nearly 100 gingerbread houses and dozens of tabletop trees and wreaths.

This is our second largest fundraiser of the year, said Bryan Lake, director of administration of the Boys & Girls Club of SCV. We are hoping to make at least $100,000 from the event this year.

Lake said was impressed with the efforts of Chobanian and her decorating crew.

The trees are exceptionally beautiful this year, he said. I am amazed at what Ronda and her design team have pulled off.

Madison Shaver, 6, of Valencia said she liked the gingerbread houses and the trees the best.

She attended the event with her younger sister, Kendal, and mother, Michele Shaver of Valenca and grandmother Gail McGinnis of Thousand Oaks.

Weve attended Festival of Trees every year, said Michele Shaver. This is my favorite event in the SCV.

Volunteer Vicki Bottenfield worked the childrens Kids Corner on opening day.

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Festival starts holiday season