Wreath Auction:

To help fund the Vail history exhibit and the Trees for Vail campaign, all wreaths will be available for auction.  A silent auction form will be near each wreath.  Bids will be accepted Nov 26-Dec 12.  Winners will be announced and wreaths may be picked up on Dec 13th. For each wreath that is sold, the Tannenbaum Festival will donate a young Blue Spruce, Engleman Spruce or Lodgepole Pine tree to the Town of Vail to be re-planted in Vail.  A portion of the silent auction donations will be tax-deductible.  Planting trees is a simple thing everyone can do to reduce carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Minimum bids will start at $75 and bidding will be in $5 increments.  Winning bids amounts above $75 are tax deductible. 

Festival Ornament

Interested merchants may recoup their festival entry fee by selling just 25 limited edition ornaments, a souvenir of the 2008 Vail Tannenbaum Festival.  These stunning hand painted ornaments will be a special holiday reminder of Vail for years to come.  Ornaments come in a bright red box.  The wholesale cost of the ornament is $12.50, suggested retail $25. 

Vail’s Tannenbaum Festival recommends the use of real Christmas trees

When purchasing a Christmas tree, the most environmentally favorable choice is a real Christmas tree. The ecological advantages of a real Christmas tree over an artificial Christmas tree are numerous.

First, each acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement of 18 people. With over 500,000 acres of Christmas trees in the United States, that translates into nine million people a day supplied with oxygen from these trees.

Of equal value is the fact that real Christmas trees consume carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas thus helping with the battle against global warming. The EPA asserts that one of the best ways to reduce global warming is to plant trees. Christmas tree growers plant 2 or 3 new seedlings for every cut tree.

Next, Christmas trees are often grown on land unsuitable for other crops.

Today nearly all of the real Christmas trees sold at seasonal Christmas-tree lots or sold on-line are grown on tree farms. As a result, according to the American Forests, a Washington, D.C.-based conservation nonprofit, American forests are not damaged by Christmas tree sales. "One might think that fake trees are the better choice, but the opposite is true, since Christmas tree farms provide substantial benefits to the environment," says Jenna Rose, managing editor of AFreshSqueeze.com. "While it may seem environmentally insensitive to chop down a tree and decorate it, real trees are actually more eco-friendly."

Lastly, 85% of artificial trees are made and shipped from China and all are made of toxic PVCs and carry warnings of lead. Recycling a real Christmas tree has many benefits for the environment. Rather than clogging already strained landfills, chipping or mulching trees can produce valuable compost to assist in the growth of gardens and other beneficial plants. Compost nourishes and renews soil and promotes water retention. Recycled real Christmas trees can even be used to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation control. To promote a green Christmas, the only viable choice is to purchase real Christmas trees.

Energy Efficient Holiday Lights

The use of energy efficient LED lights will be encouraged throughout the community.  The Town of Vail has just committed to using all LED lights to decorate its trees from West Vail to East Vail. Initially, the lights cost nearly three times as much but will save energy and last longer so in the long run are very cost effective.  This year there will be fewer lights but within 3 years the town will have replaced 100% of their lights used to beautify the town during the holidays.

Decorating Assistance

For window decorating tips and holiday decorating supplies you are encouraged to contact our Festival Sponsors.  Wreaths and window displays may be individually sponsored and decorating assistance is allowed. 

Lou Meskiman at Thank You Masked Man 476-4478 or at tymm@vail.net

The Colorado Ski Museum gift shop has a large selection of Christmas ornaments to choose from and all Tannenbaum Festival participants receive a 20% discount.