This past week, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) employees filled trees with tinsel and Fair tidings for the Springfield Boys & Girls Club's Annual Festival of Trees and the Melha Shriners’ Feztival of Trees. Both fundraisers are open to the public now through mid-December.
Proceeds benefit the missions of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club and Melha Shriners accordingly. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America boast more than 130 years of charitable work by providing children in the community with hope, opportunity and a safe place to learn and grow.
Shriners International sustains a health system of 22 facilities across North America. Each provides exceptional pediatric medical care, performs world-class research and offers educational opportunities for medical professionals. The Melha Shriners, our local chapter, support Shriners Children’s Hospitals in Springfield, Mass., and Boston, Mass. Care is always provided at these facilities, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
Trees are donated and decorated by businesses, civic and social organizations, schools, hospitals, families and individuals eager to advance the missions of these charitable organizations.
ESE’s tree for the Festival of Trees, located at the MassMutual Center, embraces the “Expect the Unexpected” attitude of The Big E; come for the timeless celebration of American tradition and agricultural excellence and stay for pickle-flavored donuts, the world’s smallest horse and comedy and Country acts all in the same hour. In accordance with this year’s campaign, the tree is vivid and overflows with four-legged barnyard friends, Fair Admission, Giant Slide Vouchers, Midway Ride Vouchers, redeemable Cream Puff & E-clair Vouchers, swag from The Big E’s Official Merchandise Store, by TSMGI, and more! It is covered in Christmas cheer and bursting with items that help you deliver the magic of The Big E to your doorstep this holiday season.
The Festival of Trees is open to the public at the MassMutual Center on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-8pm and Sundays from 10am-5pm, November 28 through December 14. If your name is drawn, then you take home your tree and everything on it! The Big E’s tree totals $1,200 in prize value, and it is just one of the many available. Tickets purchased online at MassMutualCenter.com can be used any day/time during regular event hours.
ESE’s tree for the Feztival of Trees, located in ESE’s A Barn/Stroh Building, is filled with products reminiscent of New England heritage and the organization’s multifaceted mission. Find goods from the Eastern States Farmers Market and Wine Café; tickets for The Fiber Festival of New England 2026; tour vouchers for Storrowton Village Museum; merchandise and a free team registration for Hooplandia, the Northeast’s Ultimate 3x3 Basketball Tourney + Festival; and more. Just like ESE’s year-round calendar of events, the tree holds something for everyone on your list. The tree bears a haul handpicked for all.
The Shriners’ gallery of trees is open to the public from 10am-8pm November 28-30, 4-8pm December 1-5, 10am-8pm December 6 and 10am-4pm on December 7. Admission and parking are free to the public. To find out what days Santa will be at the barn for photos, pricing for raffle tickets and more, head to MelhaShriners.org/FeztivalofTrees. If your name is drawn, then you take home your tree and everything on it! ESE’s tree totals $1,200 in prize value, and it is just one of the many available.