A total of 88 trees were decorated for 2023, making WCHS’s Festival of Trees the largest indoor tree display in Minnesota!

The 2023 winners are:

Grand Champion

“You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch”, WCHS Staff & Volunteers

COMMUNITY DECORATED - Prime Category*

First Place: “Christmas at Hogwarts”, Thrivent - Eric J Ebeling 

Second Place: "Botanical Bliss”, Buffalo Floral & the Speckel family

Third Place: “Fishing for Buffalo History”, Members of the Buffalo Historical Society

COMMUNITY DECORATED - Bboosted Ccategory**

First Place: “Our Heroes”, Blue Star Mothers of Wright County 

Second Place: "A Night in the Woods”, Book Club Besties

Third Place: “Hark the Herald Angels Read”, The Friends of the Buffalo Library

WCHS DECORATED

First Place: “You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch”, WCHS Staff & Volunteers

Second Place: “Hues of Gold”, Karen Jacobson

Third Place: “Irene’s Cardinals”, Sally Stevens & Becky Severud

WRIGHT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT

First Place: Buffalo Police Department

BATTLE of the WCHS STaff Members

First Place: '“In My Festive Era”, Marisa Campanaro-Archivist

STAFF PICKS

Geoff’s Pick: “Botanical Bliss”, Buffalo Floral & the Speckel family. Geoff said, “Looking at the tree from a pure design eye, to me, it was the most full yet balanced tree. At the same time, it had such a variety of different floral elements that kept me looking over and over again.”

Marisa’s Pick: “God Jul Sweden”, Karen Jacobson. Marisa said, “Though I am not of Swedish descent (that I know of!) I loved Karen bringing in a piece of her family history to the Festival. Also the little wooden ornament were some of my favourites!”

Sally’s Pick: “Creative Christmas”, Silver Creek Cabin.  Sally said, “As a brand new (and slightly obsessed knitter, I’m highly aware of how much time, energy, and talent was required to create all the little treasures on the Silver Creek Cabin tree. The first-time entrants also had so much fun doing their tree that it set the tone for me for the whole season!”

Ember’s Pick: “Vintage Country Christmas”, LaDonna Eull. Ember said, “Two words—candles and vintage. That’s technically three words, but just ignore that.”

Mary’s Pick: “You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch”, WCHS Staff & Volunteers. Mary said, “I really enjoyed the sheer amount of ornaments on the Grinch tree.”

*The ‘PRIME’ category is the largest grouping of entries and represent those participants who were provided a standard 6.5’ tree from WCHS’s collection.

**The new ‘BOOSTED’ category represents those participants who provided their own trees, special submissions, and trees other than the standard 6.5’ size provided in WCHS’s ‘prime’ category. BOOSTED entries are designated by the entrant and/or the Festival of Trees coordinators.”