The Festival of Trees began Friday evening, but before the doors opened, tree decorators hustled and bustled to get everything ready.

At 6 a.m., families and friends carried boxes full of ornaments, ribbons and other decorations into The Coeur d’Alene Resort. The scene was similar to what Santa’s workshop might look like; it wasn’t long before the floor of the ballroom was covered in glitter, tinsel and bubble wrap, and people climbed ladders to put the final touches on their trees.

Each display is sponsored by a different local group or company and has a theme, like black and white or native traditions. There are 29 displays this year.

The Blazen Divaz sponsored a display featuring the tree that accompanied them in a parade down Hollywood Boulevard last year.

“We’ve been doing this for about five years now,” said group leader Julia Parmann. “We’re really into community service and it’s great for team building.”

The Festival of Trees is the major fundraising event for Kootenai Health — a community owned, not-for-profit hospital. During the 28 years the Kootenai Health Foundation has put on the Festival of Trees, the community has raised $5.9 million for the hospital.

This year’s festival will fund an expansion for the emergency department and new operating rooms for the hospital.

Melanie Lambrecht, event coordinator, said each year the Kootenai Health Foundation averages $400,000 in fundraising.

“It’s an iconic community event and it brings everyone together,” she said. “The tree decorators bring their kids and it teaches them that this is the

giving season. They’re not out Black Friday shopping, they’re here.”

The Festival of Trees really is a family event, exemplified by Deb Mongeau and her daughter, Nicole Jacklin, who have been tree decorators together for eight years.

This year, Jacklin and her husband sponsored the “baby” themed tree.

“It’s a good way to give back to an organization and it’s a fun thing to do with my mom,” Jacklin said.

“It’s an amazing and perfect way to start the season,” Mongeau added. “We always just want Thanksgiving to be over with so we can do this.”

The Festival of Trees will be featuring different meals, presentations and fashion shows as well as a gala that all require reservations. The trees are open to the public Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Family Day. A Children’s Workshop runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit kh.org/foundation.