Why it matters: This 55-year Utah tradition transforms holiday spirit into lifesaving support for children’s healthcare, and this year, it’s adding a powerful new way to give back.
The big picture: Festival of Trees typically raises over $3 million annually for Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, funding everything from music therapy to cutting-edge treatments.
By the numbers:
- 550 trees, wreaths, quilts and gingerbread houses on display
- Thousands of pounds of homemade fudge for sale
- Open through Saturday evening at Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy
One story: Livie Smart was just 14 when diagnosed with leukemia. Ten months in, treatment failed. She needed a bone marrow transplant using a technique never tried before at Primary Children’s.
She found a match and it worked. Today, three years later, she’s cancer-free and volunteering at the festival that helped support her care.
What’s new: This year features a National Marrow Donor Program booth where visitors can join the registry with a simple cheek swab, inspired by Livie’s story.
“Behind every tree or behind every donation, there is a story,” says Lisa Nievaard, festival co-chair. “There’s a journey happening, and there are various stages of healing.”
The bottom line: “If you come once, you will come again,” says Dustin Lipson, president of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “The stories of every single tree that you read are so inspiring and so compelling, and the creativity of this community, it’s second to none.”
What’s next: Festival runs through Saturday. Get details and tickets at FestivalofTreesUtah.org