16 Nov 2015 CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees Nov. 18-21

Posted at 10:50 AMh in News by

Ticket sales are under way for the 39th annual CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees, a four-day holiday celebration and fundraiser benefiting CARTI cancer patients, scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Downtown Little Rock.

The CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees serves as an umbrella title for a slate of four individual events all centered around seasonal celebrations benefiting the statewide network of cancer care facilities.

“Our theme this year is ‘London Calling,’” said Michaela Johnson, CARTI event planner and volunteer coordinator. “With a nod to our neighbors across the pond, the CARTI Auxiliary is bringing British flair to each of our ‘Fab Four’ events by celebrating the international influence that began when the Beatles first changed the face of American pop culture in the 1960s.”

From the elegantly attired to the whimsically clever, a veritable "forest" of elaborately decorated trees once again serves as the focal point of the festival. Free general viewing, “Stroll Through the Forest,” is scheduled 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.

Other Festival of Trees events include:

  • Sugar Plum Ball.  Visions of sugar plums dance not only in the head, but also on the dance floor at this classic daddy-daughter date night event in which a little princess and the Prince Charming of her choice step directly into a storybook setting with for an evening of dining, dancing and entertainment. (6 to 8:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 18; tickets, $40 each.)
  • Festival After Dark. A casual holiday mixer designed especially for sophisticated singles and cosmopolitan couples, Festival After Dark highlights include live entertainment by DJ GForce and “A Taste of the Season” which features a sampling of many delicious dishes from several of Central Arkansas’ finest restaurants and food vendors. (7 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 19; tickets, $50.)
  • Festival of Fashion. Festival of Fashion lights the night in the grand tradition of New York Fashion Week, with fashionable flair complete with champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a professional runway show highlighting the hottest styles from 18 of Central Arkansas’ most popular boutiques and honoring Sonia Worsham as the 2015 CARTI Auxiliary Fashion Icon.  (5:30 p.m. doors open; 6:30 p.m. show; Fri., Nov. 20, tickets, $50 each.)
  • Tux ‘n Trees. Fine dining, dancing, live and silent auctions and keynote speakers Bill Crimson and Dr. Rhonda Gentry are among the highlights of this formal gala, the cornerstone Festival event since 1976. Live entertainment will be provided by Dizzy 7. (6 p.m. Sat., Nov. 21; tickets, $200 each.)

Since its debut in 1976, the CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees has evolved from an affair measured in hours into an Arkansas holiday tradition marked by days and has raised in excess of $6.5 million for CARTI and the cancer patients of Arkansas.

For a complete schedule of Festival events and/or ticket availability, contact the Festival of Trees office at 501.660.7612 or visit CARTI.com.

CARTI is a not-for-profit, multi-disciplinary cancer care provider offering medical and surgical oncology, diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology at locations throughout the state to provide convenient access for cancer patients. Chemotherapy is offered in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Benton, Clinton, Conway, El Dorado, Heber Springs, Russellville and Stuttgart. Radiation therapy is offered in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Mountain Home and Searcy.

The CARTI Foundation was incorporated in 1983 as a non-profit organization to assist CARTI in meeting the current and future needs of Arkansas cancer patients and their families.

For more information, visit CARTI.com.