Festival of Trees returns for 2022

Francis House Children’s Hospice opens Festival of Trees pop-up event

Organisers Francis House Children’s Hospice are hoping visitors will flock to a magical pop-up shop when more than 40 Christmas trees go on display at Quayside MediaCityUK.

The Francis House Festival of Trees opens on Saturday October 29 2022, with the aim of encouraging members of the public to place bids on the trees, each packed with vouchers, experiences, signed baubles, hampers and handmade gifts.

The exciting annual project involves organisations, community groups and individuals coming together in the decoration of a one-off Christmas tree which will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Greater Manchester hospice.

Francis House provides respite care, homecare, end of life care and a range of other services to the families of children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

Participants this year include: Towers Business Park, local Women’s Institutes, J P Goldman, Lowbury Construction, Quayside MediaCityUK, the Lowry Theatre, and Morrisons.

Julie Williams, fundraising officer at Francis House said: “We are so grateful to all of our sponsors who support the Francis House Festival of Trees. The display always looks magical and the variety of trees means that there is something for everyone. We couldn’t do it without the support from Quayside MediaCityUK who every year generously donate a retail unit to the hospice.”

Bids are placed on each tree for five weeks in the run up to Christmas, either in store or online at www.festivaloftrees.co.uk

A plentiful range of Christmas decorations and cards are also on sale in the shop along with the opportunity to win a fantastic raffle prize and take part in a lucky dip. With some trees fetching hundreds of pounds each it is hoped the event this year will exceed the £15,000 in profit raised in 2021.

The shop can be found on the first floor of Quayside MediaCityUK, formerly the Lowry Outlet and runs from October 29 until December 4.

Francis House based in Didsbury, relies heavily on voluntary donations to fund much of the £4.7 million needed in annual running costs.

To find out more visit www.festivaloftrees.co.uk