Timonium Fairgrounds was bustling on Nov. 29 for the 25th annual Festival of Trees held to benefit the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Traffic on York Road was backed up for nearly a mile in both directions as people from all over the state made their annual pilgrimage to this festive event.
The Festival of Trees is recognized as one of the largest holiday-themed events in the mid-Atlantic region. Proceeds from the event directly benefit those children and adolescents with disorders and injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system treated by Kennedy Krieger. This was my first trip to the festival and I was impressed by the number of elaborately trimmed Christmas trees, as well as vendors and activities. Many local schools, such as Pot Spring Elementary, and businesses, like Au Poitin Stil and others decorated trees.
Seven-year-old Bella Kozak's favorite tree was obvious, as she posed for photos in front of the Barbie-themed tree. Vendors like Popsations Popcorn from Timonium lined Exhibition Hall. People went crazy for the newest flavor, the Crabby Classic, a combination of Old Bay and caramel. Local chocolatier, Kim Rigby, of Parfections, offered delicious holiday truffles such as peppermint, pumpkin spice and cranberry walnut.
I picked the right day to attend the festivities! In honor of the 25th celebration, Santa and Mrs. Claus were renewing their wedding vows before hundreds of guests at the festival. It's the perfect Christmas story: Tom Mains and Vicki Stiles met in 2000 as volunteers at the festival. He was Santa and she was assigned to usher him through the crowd. The couple has volunteered every year since and recently tied the knot this past May. Dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus on anenormous stage at the festival, the couple walked down the aisle, took their vows and had their"first kiss" with Santa's helpers present as witnesses.
Congratulations to Carolyn Robinson and Kristina Bayne for establishing a Ridgely Middle School Girls Field Hockey Team. Their daughters, Olivia Robinson and Jocelyn Bayne, have been playing field hockey for several years but weren't able to play for their school as their was no established team. So their mothers contacted Lutherville/Timonium Recreation Council, held information sessions at school and had 32 girls say they were interested in playing. Their grassroots efforts paid off as the team not only finished 6 and 1, but wassuccessful in recruiting Goucher College's head coach, Megan Williams, to volunteer as coach. These mothers were sodetermined to make the team work, they drove the 16 players to Timonium Elementary several days a week for practice, as Ridgely didn't have enough field space. Home games were played on the turf at Meadowood Park. Although their daughters are graduating Ridgely Middle this year, they hope to stay involved next year and continue the girls' field hockey program.