AUGUSTA, Maine — Families, friends, and community members in Augusta gathered inside the Augusta Teen Center to kick off the holiday season and support the community at the 8th annual River of Trees Festival.
"I don’t think it’s about the value of the trees; it’s about the value of the community it represents,” head organizer Ehrin Simanski, said.
Businesses decorate trees to represent their brand, adorning them with themed gifts and unique ornaments. The event began eight years ago as a way for small businesses to engage with the community in a meaningful and festive way, Simanski said.
“These are the type of exposure events that are great for folks who have hiring needs or they have marketing needs to just get themselves out in front of the community," the director of the Augusta Downtown Alliance, Jeremy Ashlock, explained.
Attendees are encouraged to purchase raffle tickets they can then put towards one of the more than 40 trees.
"The tree with Nintendo Switch or the one with all the hockey gear on it are what I'm going for," attendee Zane Simmons said while browsing the different themed trees.
For every ticket purchased, the money goes to supporting the Augusta Downtown Alliance to help create a more cohesive downtown, Ashlock said.
"Whether it's public art initiatives, a lot of the events we throw on, or even just supporting the basic operations of our organization," Ashlock explained.
A portion of the funds also supports the Augusta Teen Center, which provides local youth with a safe, supportive space to connect.
“It gives kids somewhere they can be themselves, somewhere there’s no judgment, and somewhere they can talk to people and have a sense of being heard,” the center's Director, Elisabeth McCausland, said.
McCausland said the teen center can continue making a difference in teens' lives with the help of the community.
"Since I've been coming here, I've made so many connections. I can't go anywhere without someone saying, 'oh I know you from the teen center,'" former teen center member Richard Blais, said. Blais now volunteers in his free time.
If you're interested in attending this year's River of Trees Festival, it's open Sunday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.