43rd Annual Holiday Tree Festival

Featured Image for Holiday Tree Festival with the Pollocks

Thanks to our generous donors and decorators, we have reached our limit for trees, wreaths and holiday gifts!

Thank you to the Volunteers of Akron Children's for their hard work and dedication putting this event on each year, and thank you to everyone who decorated, donated or visited the festival. Since its beginning in 1982, the Holiday Tree Festival has raised more than $7.3 million for the hospital's patient care programs, education and research.

Please mark your calendars for 2024's festivities at the John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron, OH 44308:

November 15: Holiday Tree Festival Gala
November 16-24: Holiday Tree Festival
November 16 and 23: Breakfast with Santa

The schedule will be posted closer to the festival date.

Enjoy and purchase hundreds of trees, wreaths and other holiday decorations to benefit Akron Children’s. The festival is FREE and open to the public during these hours:

Saturday, Nov. 16 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information, please call Volunteer Services at 330-543-8424.

Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturday, Nov. 16 with a ribbon cutting/festival opening following breakfast, and Saturday, Nov. 23.

Santa will share his schedule closer to the festival dates.

The success of the Holiday Tree Festival depends upon the help of more than 1,000 volunteers like you who assist by greeting guests, selling raffle tickets, working among the trees or at the retail table.

Here is a brief overview of the available volunteer opportunities:

Raffle: Volunteers sell raffle tickets at tables located around the raffle display in the middle of the festival room.
Retail Table: Volunteers sell various holiday items to festival attendees.
Cap and Bootie Tree: The Cap and Bootie Tree is decorated with photos of babies who are former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit patients. Volunteers share information about the tree and monitor the monetary donations placed on the tree by festival attendees.
Trees/Wreaths/Gifts: Volunteers circulate throughout the display areas to keep an eye on the trees, provide information on items for sale and assist potential buyers with a purchase.

Please use this form to sign up early – we can’t do it without you!

The Cap & Bootie Tree is decorated with photos of babies and children who have been patients in the NICU at Akron Children’s. We would love to have your child featured on this special tree.

Photos should be no larger than 4X6.
Please include your child’s name and birthdate on the back. (This will not be visible to the public.)
NICU and current day photos are both welcome!

Submitted photos cannot be returned, and we must have a completed consent form. All photos must be received by November 1. Photos received after that date will be saved for next year’s tree.

Please send your photos and completed release form to Akron Children’s, Volunteer Services, 1 Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308