Festival of Trees: Nine Days of Holiday Giving
For the third year in a row, the Festival of Trees will fill the last few days in November and the first week in December with a bounty of Holiday events. The eight events truly help the community dive into the Holiday Spirit. All of it pulls together as a fundraiser to give back even more fully. This year, the beneficiaries of the fundraising project are Bears of Honor and Bright Futures. Both are wonderful non-profits that do much good.
“This event wouldn’t be possible except for the overwhelming generosity of so many in the community. We enjoy bringing this opportunity to gather during the holidays and raise funds for great, local non-profits,” said organizer, Sandy Luthe. The Festival of Trees takes an entire year to organize, with meetings starting every other month at the beginning of the year and ramping up after the summer. If you are interested in serving as a board member or on a committee, let us know. This is a great way to give back to our community.
Auction and Raffles
The events culminate in a live auction on December 6, 2025, at 3:00 pm. The auction includes over 60 items, with over 40 pre-decorated trees you can bid on to have grace your home this season. Additionally, there are wreaths and porch pots to bid on.
A separate Gift Card Wreath will be raffled off. This has $800 worth of Gift Certificates on it. Tickets will cost $1 for 10 or $3 for 20.
And, there’s a vacation package up for raffle as well. Buy tickets for a 3-day, 2-night stay for 4 adults at The Ranch at UCross in Sheridan. This $2500 value package is generously donated by Blair Hotels. Tickets are $25 each, with only 150 available!
Memorial Tree
Spirit Mountain Hospice House is working with the Festival of Trees this year with a Memorial Tree. Instead of the Lovelight Celebration, you will be able to purchase a paper ornament to honor a loved one. Afterwards, you can bring it home as it contains wildflower seeds to plant – a way to keep loved ones near in the summer as well. The funds raised for the Memorial Tree will go straight to Hospice House.
Festival of Trees Events
Over the past two years, the events have been held at the airport, but this year they’ve moved to Cody Regional Health. Be sure to check out the various events and mark your calendars for the ones you don’t want to miss. Buy tickets online for events.
Here’s the rundown of events:
Friday, November 28 | Merry Mingle Tree Lighting and Bingo
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Free Family Event
This kickoff event will feature the lighting of the trees and family bingo. This free family event will honor loved ones who have been lost by reading their names, and ornaments will be presented to family members to enjoy on their trees at home. Enjoy a hot chocolate bar during the family bingo.
Saturday, November 29 | Tea in the Trees
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
$25 single/$175 table of 8
The hostess/host purchases a table for $175 and decorates it with their own linens, dinnerware, centerpiece, and tea set (set up can start at 9 am). This can be simple or as elaborate as you would like! Then invite up to 7 of your friends to enjoy tea, complete with entertainment from the Cody United Methodist Chapel Bell Choir and the Yellowstone Harmony Chorus. You can also purchase a table, and we’ll set up the decorations for you! There will be a basket auction, games, and prizes for tables! Multi-generational tables are highly encouraged!! The board will also have several tables available for single attendees as well. BUY TICKETS
Sunday, November 30 | Brunch with Santa
11:00 am – 2:00pm
$10/adult, children eat for free
Santa has made time in his busy schedule to come here to Cody for brunch! Get your kids’ pictures taken with Santa during the event and enjoy books and games hosted by Park County Library!
Monday, December 1 | Bedtime Story and Cookies with Mrs. Claus
6:30 pm
Mrs. Claus joins us for another special free event! Pajamas, blankets, and stuffies are encouraged as we have sleepy-time stories read from Mrs. Claus. Cookies and milk will be provided. Two lucky children will go home with a basket full of new books, games, puzzles, and goodies!
Tuesday, December 2 | Fashion Show | SOLD OUT!
6:30 pm
The evening will feature locals modeling current looks from Park County stores and designers! Tickets are $25/person or $175/table of 8 (which includes 2 bottles of wine). Charcuterie and dessert buffet included. Cash wine bar. Doors open at 6:00 pm to allow time to meander through the trees with a glass of wine. The fashion show will start at 6:30 pm. Don’t miss the Mystery Bag Sale—every bag contains a prize valued between $20–$100! Plus, one lucky attendee will win a $200 gift certificate to their choice of one of the featured stores!
Wednesday, December 3 | Local Entertainment
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come enjoy the sounds of the season in this free event.
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Eastside Elementary
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Dawesome Preschool
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Christ the King Preschool
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm | CHS Choir/Synergy
Thursday, December 4 | Feast of the Festival | SELLING OUT QUICKLY!
6:30 pm
Doors will open with a bar and music at 6:00 pm. Grab a drink at the cash bar and view the beautiful display of trees! Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm by Cody Pardners. We will have presentations from our two non-profits, Bright Futures Mentoring and Bears of Honor. We will then auction off two trees made by the non-profits, especially for the dinner. Join us for a fun chance to win a Sig Sauer P365 pistol! Thanks to our many sponsors, Quality Brands, Brewgards, Big Horn Foods, the many bakers, and more, all money raised tonight will be split between Bright Futures Mentoring and Bears of Honor! BUY TICKETS!
Friday, December 5 | Adults Only Merry Mingle and Bingo
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Grab your friends and join us for a game of ADULT-ONLY bingo with a cash bar. Winners take home half the pot, with the other half going to Bright Futures Mentoring and Bears of Honor!! $2 per bingo card.
Saturday, December 6 | Spruces, Spirits & Sparkles (Live/Online Auction)
3:00 pm
Join us for a festive holiday happy hour featuring cheerful drinks, tasty bites, and live decorated tree bidding to start the Christmas season in style.
Bidding begins online at mbauction.com on Friday, November 28 at 3:00 pm. Trees go live at 3:00 pm on December 6 (you can continue to bid online if you don’t attend in person).
Article by Janet Jones
Owner of Cody Journal and SnowMoon Photography
Janet has a rich history in Cody with her grandparents moving here in the late 1930s. Her grandfather started Wyoming Well Service. Janet is a writer, photographer, graphic designer and webmaster. Cody Journal and Cody Calendar blends her skills and talents with her love of the area.