The annual Chambersburg attraction enters its final days with decorated trees, wreaths, public voting and a silent auction supporting breast-care services.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau is bringing the 2025 Franklin County Festival of Trees into its final days at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The event combines decorated holiday trees and wreaths with public voting and a silent auction, directing all proceeds to the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. Its format places seasonal tourism, local creativity and charitable giving in the same visitor experience.
The festival features a broad mix of themes, including cactus trees, upside-down trees, pencil trees, candy designs, patriotic displays, musical decorations and traditional Christmas styles. About 40% of this year’s decorators are new to the event, while returning participants include King Street Church Pottery Studio Ministry. The pottery class has contributed hand-crafted pottery ornaments for its tree, following recognition for the highest silent-auction bid in 2024.
The current bidding leaders reflect the variety of organisations involved. The Certified Tourism Ambassador tree, described as a dark chocolate tree with a woodsy theme, is leading the tree category, while the Capitol Theatre wreath has the highest bid among wreaths. Visitors can view the displays and bid in person, by email or by phone, with email bidding scheduled to close at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 5, phone bidding at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, and in-person bidding at noon that day.
The final public hours are scheduled for Thursday, December 4, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, December 5, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. Silent-auction winners are scheduled to be announced between 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, when the visitors centre is also set to reopen for tree and wreath collection. The structure gives visitors several ways to participate while maintaining the event’s charitable purpose.
For the Franklin County Visitors Bureau, the festival provides a focused way to connect the county’s visitor centre with local arts, familiar holiday characters and community organisations. The displays are available for inspection both at the venue and through an online gallery, extending access beyond those who can attend during the listed hours. As the 2025 edition concludes, its combination of auction activity and seasonal programming offers a measured example of how a regional tourism organisation can support a local cause through an in-person attraction.
