7th Annual Festival of Trees
Festival of Trees Sponsors Showcase Creative Tree Décor and Support Great Causes
Ocean Isle Beach, NC ––The Museum of Coastal Carolina’s Festival of Trees has raised thousands of dollars for dozens of local causes over the last five years. This year sea turtles, local churches, victims of Hurricane Helene and others will benefit from the Museum’s 6th annual Festival of Trees. The Museum galleries transform
Pictured here from the Bricklanding Women’s Club are Patti Lucas, Roe Valenza and Susan Barrett with the 2024 Guest Favorite Tree.
into a magical Christmas wonderland, providing a family-friendly holiday activity, fostering friendly competition among 21 tree sponsors, raising funds and providing opportunities to increase community awareness of impactful causes.
Each year area organizations join the Museum in decorating themed trees for a silent auction with the proceeds benefiting a non-profit. The highest bidders will take home decorated trees once the festival concludes. Each visitor receives one ballot to vote for their favorite tree, and visitors who want to increase their preferred trees’ chances of winning can purchase additional ballots. The winner for the guests’ favorite tree will be announced Dec. 29.
It is a delightful time to stroll through the Museum at a leisurely pace and admire artfully decorated trees while also enjoying the Museum programs and exhibits. Themes for this year’s event include a Country Christmas, Under the Sea, O Holy Night and more traditional holiday themes.
The following area businesses and nonprofits are participating in this year’s event: ASAP Realty; Bricklanding Women’s Club; Brunswick Family Assistance; Camp UMC Mother’s Morning Out Ministries; Coastal Carolina First Responders Association; Coastal Carolina Lighting; Flamingo Foto Booths; General Federation of Women’s Club, Holden Beach; General Federation of Women’s Club, South Brunswick Islands; Gina Gore, Broker-Realtor Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage; Innovate Real Estate; LEWA–Light & Energy Workers Association; Ocean Isle Property Owners Association; Ocean Isle Museum Foundation Volunteers; Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization; The GPS Store; Ocean Isle Museum Foundation Team; Old Bridge Historical Society; Sunset Vision; Philanthropic Education Organization and Spill Resin Art.
5th Annual Low Country Boil
Enjoy delicious coastal cuisine, drinks, live music from country artist Johnny White, and lawn games when the Museum of Coastal Carolina hosts its popular fifth annual Low Country Boil on Sunday, September 20 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm on the Museum grounds.
Shrimply Delicious Catering will prepare a menu that includes shrimp, clams, mussels, sausage, potatoes, corn, coleslaw, hushpuppies or cornbread. Drinks, including beer and wine will be available for purchase. Dine-in and To-go options are also available. Bring your lawn chair or join other guests at tables the Museum provides for a fun event for all.
All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Proceeds from the event will support operations of the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium, which operate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Foundation Star Society Breakfast
Museum and Planetarium Celebrate Women in STEM
The event will include a presentation by Marine Biologist and Author Dr. Christine Figgener. A decade ago, Figgener posted an uncomfortable video of her team from Texas A&M University removing a straw from the nose of an olive ridley sea turtle. The video went viral and started a movement to rid the world of plastic straws.
“Straws are just the poster child of a much bigger problem,” Figgener said. “Everybody can do their part in helping sea turtles and the world.”
Since then, Figggener has gone on to become one of the world’s leading sea turtle researchers, doing extensive work in Costa Rica. She also speaks passionately about conservation issues and getting girls interested in Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM).
We didn’t even know the terms “viral video” or “STEM” when Carmel Zetts began walking on the sand of Sunset Beach in search of nesting sea turtles. She’s been a volunteer with the Sunset Beach Sea Turtle Watch since the early 90s and has led the organization for three decades. Zetts will be honored as the fourth recipient of the Coastal Caretaker Award presented annually by the Foundation.
It’s all planned as part of a new initiative at the Museum and the Planetarium to inspire girls’ interest in STEM. The organization recently joined the If/Then Champions Network, a nationwide partnership between science museums and the National Girls Collaborative. With the help of the Network, the Planetarium opened a new exhibit late last year that introduces visitors to real life women scientists working in STEM careers. The If/Then Network is in part sponsoring the event.
The event also honors members of the Star Society, the organization’s highest level of donors. Those members attend at no charge, but the public can also purchase a ticket in advance for $35. A ticket and a copy of Figgener’s book “My Life with Sea Turtles” is $50.
Sponsored by
