Discover Northwest Nebraska
Keep Chadron Beautiful’s creative recycled aluminum can tree was chosen as the People’s Choice Award winner at this year’s Festival of Trees. The organization will possess the traveling trophy that goes along with the honor for the next year.
The “Ribbons of Renewal” tree celebrated sustainability and creativity as it was made of strips of aluminum cans folded into ribbons to highlight the repurposing of discarded materials into something beautiful.
“Every piece on this tree once had a different life, but instead of ending in a landfill, it now tellsa story of rebirth and possibility,” Keep Chadron Beautiful wrote on its registration.
Chadron Community Hospital and Northwest Community Action Partnership Head Start were the second and third-place vote-getters, while the American Legion Auxiliary and the Chadron Primary School tied for fourth and fifth.
This year’s Festival of Trees included more than 40 entries and was selected as a site on the State Tourism Holiday Passport Program, which ended Jan. 8. The event takes place at the Dawes County Courthouse each year, and businesses, organizations, families and individuals are invited to participate by bringing and decorating a tree for the holiday season.
Roughly three dozen Passport participants from across the state visited Chadron to see the Festival of Trees, and locals and visitors were able to enjoy the decorated trees during courthouse hours, special Saturday viewings and an evening open house.
“The Festival of Trees was started more than a decade ago, and this year represented the most entries in its history,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “The trees were creative and unique, and some organizations are already making plans for the 2025 event. I hope to see the Festival of Trees continue to grow and urge businesses, families and organizations from across the region to consider decorating a tree when registration opens again in October.”