If you are looking to get into the festive mood, head to Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC) beginning Monday, December 3rd.

This will be the fourth year the Cochrane Lionesses have hosted the Festival of Trees at the sports centre providing an opportunity for businesses and organizations to show off their festive creativity.

Jackie Mackenzie, Secretary for the Cochrane Lionesses shares they already have 18 sponsored trees this year and they are looking forward to seeing which one is a crowd favourite. "Local businesses and organizations sponsor a pre-lit 6 to 8 foot Christmas tree and they can decorate it as uniquely, traditional, or any which way they wish. We leave them up for the whole month of December for everyone to be able to enjoy."

The beautifully decorated trees flank Santa's cabin at the rec centre and the public at large are invited to cast their vote anytime during the month. Although Spray Lake Sawmills has dominated the friendly competition the past few years, with five or six new businesses coming on board, Mackenzie shares competition is bound to get interesting. "There is going to be some tough competition put out, I think."

With not being completely filled up, Mackenzie shares they will have a couple of trees set up and ready to go for decorating (over the next week) if any businesses/organizations wish to still participate. Tree sponsorship costs $200 and not only is it a great marketing ploy but all sponsorship dollars go right back into the community. "Next week Spray Lakes will be hosting the Christmas market so there is a lot of opportunity for marketing per se for people wanting to look at it that way and the money raised goes directly right back into the Cochrane community."

Mackenzie says they love working in partnership with SLSFSC because it offers the community a free event that gets everyone in the holiday spirit. "There will be photos with Santa next weekend (December 8) when the market is and there will be Santa skating all that fun stuff intertwined with this." 

While some cities and towns have a huge gala where trees are auctioned off, Mackenzie says maybe as the Lioness organization grows that will become an option to consider.

The trees will remain on display until December 30th and Mackenzie welcomes everyone to cast their vote by entering their 'top choice' in the ballot box.