Me: “Oh right! I always forget that the trees at the Aquarium are done by Lower Cape Fear Hospice! I just assume it’s the Aquarium!”

Sally Shepherd, chuckling: “You and just about everyone else.”

Shepherd is the Public Relations and Communications Specialist at Lower Cape Fear Hospice (LCFH), a position she has held for about five years. LCFH has a variety of programs for families we could have discussed. But on this particular day, we talked about the incredibly popular Festival of Trees. It is, after all, a family holiday favorite; I wanted to know more about this unique blending of Christmas trees and fish.

While my family has only been here for three years, LCFH has been hosting the Festival of Trees for over 30 years.

Lower Cape Fear Hospice was started nearly 40 years ago by a group of volunteers. For those unfamiliar: hospice care is end-of-life care. When a patient is diagnosed terminally ill, hospice will come and attend to the 
“physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs” of the sick. But hospice also helps the family and the loved ones of the patient as well. As someone who has seen hospice in action a few times, it is an incredibly important service.

LCFH has a huge affect on this area, as well. They are a free service. To those who qualify for Medicare, LCFH is provided. But LCFH also makes themselves available for free to anyone who may not have private insurance or may not qualify for Medicare.

As part of what they do, too, LCFH offers a whopping 80 workshops on grief, grief support and grief counseling. LCFH gives out over $1 million in charity care to the area every year. Clearly, they provide a critical and extensive service.

So when it is time for the Festival of Trees, LCFH gets excited. This is a major fundraiser for them and this year the event will likely bring in over $50,000. 

Of the 50 trees on display this year, some are purchased by sponsors and some are purchased by individuals who dedicate the tree to the memory of a loved one. The tree sponsor can either decorate the tree themselves or have LCFH do the decorating. First Citizens as been a long-time presenting sponsor, as well, allowing this event to continue in the area.

Again, as with Enchanted Airlie, the decorating is a creative group effort. Well over 50 volunteers work with LCFH on the Festival of Trees, and some are particularly adept at decorating. Once they know a tree’s theme, they purchase the decorations and make it happen. Those who have a memorial tree will usually ask that the tree be decorated with ornaments representing the loved one’s hobbies and passions.

“We really could not do this without the sponsors,” Shepherd said. “They are such a wonderful community of support for us and we appreciate them.”

Today, the Festival of Trees is held at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. But it hasn’t always been. While it rotated around a few public venues in the past, such as hotels, it found a happy home four years ago.

“This is a great venue for us as visitors can see not only the trees but also everything the Aquarium has to offer,” Shepherd shared. “Having the Festival at the Aquarium has increased the amount of people who get to see it. It has been a great partnership.”

The trees are always fun to look at. Each one is unique and usually thematic. Some of the ones that stand out to Shepherd this year: one with elves feet sticking out (as though the elves jumped into the tree), a tree wearing a top hat, a Cape Fear Strong tree marking ongoing Hurricane Florence recovery, and a tree that is teeming with aquatic decorations, including mermaid tails.

“There is such a good variety!”

Visitors to the Festival of Trees have to pay to enter the Aquarium, but there is no additional charge to enjoy the trees. Visitors may donate to LCFH during their visit, and donors who give over $5.00 will be gifted a special dove ornament to take home. There is also a tree where visitors are invited to write the name of a loved one who has passed on an ornament and hang it, creating a Christmas tree that is full of love and memories.

For Lower Cape Fear Hospice, reminding people what they do, that they support families and loved ones through the hardest transition of all, is the most important part of the Festival of Trees.

“It is important not only to raise funds to support our mission,” Shepherd said, “but also to raise awareness of hospice care. We are here for the community and to serve the community. We want to give people the best care possible when they need it the most.”

Shepherd paused then added, “Plus, it’s a fun thing! I mean, who couldn’t use a little Christmas cheer?”

Want to see the Festival of Trees?
The Festival is open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm with the cost of Aquarium admission. For more visit www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located at 900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach.

Want to learn more about Lower Cape Fear Hospice?
Visit www.lcfh.org.