Photos: Holiday cheer and atmosphere at annual Festival of Trees

DULUTH — Holiday cheer filled the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center during the 38th annual Festival of Trees. The two-day arts, crafts, and gift show serves as a fundraiser for the Junior League of Duluth. Opening Saturday, the event featured over 170 vendors. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit with Santa Claus, including 10-month-old Emily Lou Tuncel of Jacobson, Minnesota. “Yep, first time meeting Santa,” said Alexandra Tuncel, Emily Lou’s mother. “This will be her second Christmas because she was born Dec. 23.” Emily Lou even had a new hat from one of the vendors for the occasion. Among the featured vendors was Shari Smith of Marquette, Michigan, owner of Shari’s Crafty Creations, which showcases handcrafted snowmen and animal figures. Smith has already seen actual snow this fall. “We drove through some on the way here,” said Smith. For attendees like Kristi Hanson of Esko and Shelley Michalicek of Duluth, visiting the festival has been an on-and-off tradition.

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