Not even COVID-19 will stop one of the city's biggest and most festive fundraisers of the year from happening, but it will still have safety measures, of course. The Festival of Trees starts Friday.

When it comes to raising money for local charities, many like to go big. So Jen Brett and Ashley Caprara, representing a local company, Al's Siding, make no apologies for going massive.


What You Need To Know

  •  Despite COVID, the city's Annual Festival of Trees Fundraiser will go on

  • The Fundraiser is set to kick off Friday, but has been moved from the State Office Building to the former Call Center Downtown
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  • The auction event will raise money for the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation and the local YMCA

"Can you even believe how much stuff you have?" the pair was asked.

"No," Brett said.

"When you start carrying it, you realize it," Ashley Caprara added.

The two are decorating a tree, actually an entire space, to be auctioned off during the city's Festival of Trees Fundraiser. Their theme? Frosty Jack Daniels.

''Everything ties into the North Country and around the holidays and Jack Frost. We kind of tied it all together," Caprara said.

In addition to the tree, and the Jack Daniels, there's a real wooden barrel with a poker set, a small refrigerator, a guitar with records, and even a cigar humidor.

It's all in the detail, pieces they hope will bring in big bids for the local YMCA and Samaritan Medical Center Foundation.

"It's bringing the North Country together, especially in times like these," Brett said. "The world is crazy right now and I think as a community we need to stick together."

And not only for the agencies, but for all of our morale overall. Holiday cheer can't come soon enough.

"I think with us doing this, even before Thanksgiving, it puts you in the spirit and maybe everybody just wants to smile and be cheerful," Caprara said.

The Festival of Trees is set to kick off Friday night, running through December 5. It has moved from the State Office Building to the old call center downtown. Again, it’s set to be in-person, but there are contingency plans to host it completely online if need be.

One Tree was created in honor of long-time community favorite, Jefferson County Legislator and event supporter Carolyn Fitzpatrick, who passed away earlier this year.