It’s hard to believe the end of the year is approaching so quickly, but the holiday season is upon us once more!
As the community prepares for the festive season, staff at Muhlenberg County Public Libraries – Thistle Cottage are gearing up for another annual Jubilee of Trees.
The Jubilee of Trees has been an annual holiday tradition at Thistle Cottage for more than 10 years. Each year in December, the historic building hosts a fantasy forest of Christmas trees decorated by community businesses and organizations. This year’s Jubilee of Trees includes 17 different trees decorated by:
- Muhlenberg County Public Libraries
- ACT Christian Academy
- Alpha Iota
- Central City Elementary School
- First Kentucky Bank
- First Southern National Bank
- Friends of the Library
- Girl Scouts
- Greenville Tourism
- Greenville Woman’s Club
- Muhlenberg Arts Council
- Muhlenberg Cooperative Extension Service
- Old National
- Opportunity Center
- Owensboro Health – Muhlenberg Community Hospital
SOAR(canceled)
Visitors to the Jubilee of Trees have the opportunity to vote for their favorite tree. Each vote also counts as an entry into a prize giveaway.
The Jubilee of Trees opens to the public on Dec. 7 with another of Thistle Cottage’s popular annual events, Pictures with Santa. Community members will be able to visit and take free photos with Santa Claus in a charming historic setting at Thistle Cottage on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thistle Cottage’s Amie Waltrip explained that library staff opted last year not to provide a paid professional photographer on-site, as had been done in previous years, and this year they will do the same due to last year’s success. Waltrip said, “After listening to feedback from the community, we realized there was a need for a free event where everyone could meet Santa and get a photo with him in a nice setting.”
“We don’t want to compete with our local photographers’ own holiday event,” Waltrip added. “Those are great programs, but there are some families who cannot afford to pay for a professional photo session, especially at this time of year. Those families still deserve a chance to get a photo with Santa, though, and our goal is to provide that opportunity.”
Thistle Cottage will provide free cookies and cocoa to visitors at Pictures with Santa, and the event serves as an open house for the Jubilee of Trees. No reservations are needed.
After the open house Dec. 7, the Jubilee of Trees will remain open during Thistle Cottage’s regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) through December 30.
For more information about the Jubilee of Trees or Pictures with Santa, call Thistle Cottage at 270-338-4760.
