• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • School
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Camp
  • Kids
  • Environment/Sustainability
  • Events
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Natick Report
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • 2021 Town Election
  • Bulletin Board
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Boston Sports Institute, Wellesley

Wellesley Festival of Trees—a community celebration

November 26, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: With the community merchants of Wellesley facing the holiday season without the cherished Holiday Stroll and other traditional festivities, they needed an idea. And one has been hatched; a novel concept born out of creativity and resourcefulness: a Festival of Trees – A Community Celebration.

Wellesley Festival of Trees
Demian Wendrow, owner of London Harness and TUMI Wellesley, and volunteer President of the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association.

Storefronts throughout Central Street, Church Street, Grove and Washington Streets, and Linden Square will be decorated with scores of festive trees hand-cut from wooden pallets and similar materials. Each tree, adopted by a local business, community organization or charity, will be creatively decorated to represent their mission and holiday vision.

Brainstorming, circular saws and paint brushes

Every week since March, store owners from Wellesley Square and Linden Square have met via Zoom to compare notes on the latest resources to navigate these times, plan new ways to serve their customers and encourage each other. Then in October, the business owners created a list of new options for the holidays. The first possibilities weren’t practical and everyone grew silent. Then what appeared on everyone’s screen was a photo of a red and green Christmas tree made of wood.

“What about this?” asked Rick Cram, consultant to the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association. “I made several of these for my family and friends a few years ago. Imagine the streets lined with these.”

The decision was instantaneous. “Let’s do this,” the owners said.

Teams of merchants quickly formed, some ready to go with circular saws, others with paint brushes in hand. And the project was underway.

Rick teamed-up with Demian Wendrow, President of the Merchants’ Association and owner of London Harness and TUMI on Central Street, to resource pallets from area businesses and cut dozens of them into festive trees and fun dreidels.

Wellesley Festival of Trees
The first “Painting Party” included: Laurie Mettler, European Manor; Kimberly Kissam; Isabel Harvey; Nancy Marino, Eileen Fisher, Pam Loflbad, Wellesley Holiday Boutique; Shani Defina, Kenzie & Hope; and Amy Lynch and Addison Wendrow, London Harness.

Green’s Hardware donated cans of green, red and white paint and the first of two “painting parties” was scheduled.

The first group to show up included Laurie Mettler, owner of European Manor; Kimberly Kissam of Isabel Harvey; Nancy Marino of Eileen Fisher; Pam Loflbad of Wellesley Holiday Boutique; Shani Defina of Kenzie & Hope; and Amy Lynch of London Harness. After demonstrating their painting finesse, the group left with the first batch of trees completed and thankful that the paint was water-based and would wash off their hands and out of their clothes.

It’s all about community

In addition to the merchants working together to craft and decorate these unique creations, community organizations and local non-profits are joining in the effort. Some of the groups who have adopted a tree include the Wellesley Mother’s Forum, Ellie Fund, Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, as well as the Wellesley Police and Fire Departments. Some will decorate their trees with messages of joy and hope. Others will enhance them with unique decorations.

Wellesley Festival of Trees
Decorating her tree with a message of hope is Shani Defina, owner of Kenzie & Hope.

“Our hope is to create a memorable holiday experience where families can comfortably stroll outdoors throughout Linden Square and Wellesley’s downtown to view all the beautifully decorated trees. It’s important this year, more than ever, that we find ways to spread the holiday spirit in a safe environment,” says Matt Ehrie,Vice President – Regional Portfolio Manager for Linden Square’s owner, Federal Realty Investment Trust.

Wendrow added, ”The idea came about out of necessity, just like a number of other new initiatives this year. We had to think differently, work harder and redouble our community focus. The trees are symbolic of all of us pulling together to ensure our town stays vibrant. The message of #ShopWellesley has never been more important, and our hope is that our customers will join us and enjoy the new holiday look.”

On behalf of all us in Wellesley, Happy Holidays, and we hope you enjoy our first Festival of Trees – A Community Celebration.

For a list of participating merchants, go to https://shopwellesleysquare.com/festival-of-trees-2020/

 About Linden Square

Linden Square is a shopping, dining & lifestyle destination located in the heart of Wellesley, Mass. The center is anchored by Roche Brothers and offers a unique combination of boutique stores, restaurants, and lifestyle services including Bella Sante, California Pizza Kitchen, Compass Real Estate, The Cottage, Club Pilates, Kenzie & Hope, The Linden Store, Sara Campbell, StretchLab, Talbot’s and Tiny Hanger. For more information, visit shoplindensquare.com.

About Wellesley Square:

Wellesley Square is home to over one hundred shops, eateries and local businesses. Lead by the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association, they’re on a mission to serve the community and you with exciting offerings, including special events that add to the life of your home and ours in Wellesley. Start your visit here: ShopWellesleySquare.com.

print
Share

Filed Under: Business, Holidays, Shopping

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Linden Square, Wellesley
Write Ahead
Ann-Mara Lanza, Wellesley

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]
Wellesley Square ad
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Admit Fit, Wellesley
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Fay School, Southborough
Wellesley Theatre Project
image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click here to read our Natick Report

Natick Report

Events Calendar

« March 2021 » loading...
S M T W T F S
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
Wed 03

Wellesley Historical Society lecture: Nat Sheidley on Open History, Enter Democracy

March 3 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Fri 05

Open House at Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

March 5 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Sun 07

World of Wellesley community book read

March 7 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wed 10

Open House at Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

March 10 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Wed 17

Wellesley Police Department & Red Cross blood drive

March 17 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Most Read Posts

  • Wellesley summer camp listings 2021 — find the experience of a lifetime
  • Letter to the editor: in support of Columbus Day
  • Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic Walk-In—no appointment needed
  • Wellesley Business Buzz: Wellesley Office Park transformation underway; Digging Natick’s new Beach House volleyball center; 6 more small businesses get COVID-19 relief; Prepped and Polished adds Wellesley location; NatureWorks Landscape opening in Church Square; storefronts in for artsy makeover
  • Wellesley Business Buzz: Free meters ending; Restaurant could fill Gap spot; Semester Off has offer for school & healthcare workers

Pages

  • Guidelines for Letters to the Editor
  • How to submit your flyer for the Community Bulletin Board page
  • Wellesley Community Bulletin Board
  • Wellesley coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads
  • Wellesley, Mass., fishing spots
  • Wellesley Choral Society
  • Wellesley College Notable Alumnae
  • Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
  • Wellesley outdoor art gallery
  • Wellesley restaurants offering take-out and delivery
  • Wellesley, Massachusetts restaurant — Amarin of Thailand

Recent Comments

  • e cohen on Wellesley Business Buzz: Free meters ending; Restaurant could fill Gap spot; Semester Off has offer for school & healthcare workers
  • Donna Ticchi on Letter to the editor: on celebrating two days
  • Donna Ticchi on Letter to the editor: concerns about denouncing Columbus
  • Carol Delaney on Letter to the editor: concerns about denouncing Columbus
  • Carol Delaney on Letter to the editor: concerns about denouncing Columbus

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (18)
  • Animals (381)
  • Antiques (48)
  • Art (540)
  • Beyond Wellesley (28)
  • Books (342)
  • Business (1,370)
  • Camp (1)
  • Careers/jobs (44)
  • Churches (72)
  • Clubs (209)
  • Construction (280)
  • Dump (113)
  • Education (2,893)
    • Babson College (240)
    • Bates Elementary School (14)
    • Dana Hall School (29)
    • Fiske Elementary School (6)
    • Hardy Elementary School (33)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (34)
    • MassBay (47)
    • Schofield Elementary School (20)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (1)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (9)
    • Upham Elementary School (30)
    • Wellesley College (598)
    • Wellesley High School (888)
    • Wellesley Middle School (195)
  • Embracing diversity (43)
  • Entertainment (724)
  • Environment (673)
  • Fashion (134)
  • Finance (13)
  • Fire (142)
  • Food (328)
  • Fundraising (561)
  • Gardens (137)
  • Government (409)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
  • Health (745)
    • COVID-19 (140)
  • History (359)
  • Holidays (365)
  • Houses (120)
  • Humor (45)
  • Kids (816)
  • Law (3)
  • Letters to the Editor (13)
  • Media (63)
  • METCO (5)
  • Military (3)
  • Morses Pond (97)
  • Music (544)
  • Natick Report (28)
  • Neighbors (249)
  • Obituaries (59)
  • Outdoors (585)
  • Parenting (60)
  • Police (696)
    • Crime (351)
  • Politics (545)
  • Real estate (290)
  • Religion (127)
  • Restaurants (303)
  • Safety (142)
  • Scouts (1)
  • Senior citizens (110)
  • Shopping (123)
  • Sports (901)
  • STEM (104)
  • Technology (154)
  • Theatre (383)
  • Town Meeting (22)
  • Transportation (210)
  • Travel (11)
  • Uncategorized (1,206)
  • Volunteering (319)
  • Weather (167)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (258)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (5)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed

© 2021 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login