Staff report

Themes at the third annual Arc/Rowan Festival of Trees ranged from winter wonderland to toyland to woodland, from traditional to coastal and from North Carolina Christmas to Emerald City Christmas.

There were even dueling visions of sugarplums.

But the main theme this year, as in years past, was giving. The festival is the main fundraiser for the Arc, which provides advocacy for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.

“… I have been extremely pleased with all of the support we received from all of the sponsors and committee members that make the Festival of Trees a success,” festival Chairman Keith Gapen said.

The festival was held Saturday and Sunday at the F & amp;M Trolley Barn, the first year the fundraiser has been downtown. It showcased 43 trees sponsored by individuals, organizations and businesses.

Visitors could vote for their favorite tree and buy raffle tickets to win a handmade stained glass tree, handmade quilt and gift baskets, and even enter to win a tree decorated by Charlotte Gardner, whose tree was voted favorite by those attending last year’s festival.

The Arc finds sponsors and pairs them with decorators. After the event, each 71/2-foot-tall tree is taken to another site where it will stand through Christmas.

Communities in Schools decorated a tree this year sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas.

“As a fellow United Way Agency, I think it is very important to support each other any way we can, and this opportunity makes it very easy,” said Vicky Slusser, executive director of Communities in Schools.

Communities in Schools decorated its tree — with the theme “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!” — using winter gloves and hats. The tree will be moved to Nazareth Children’s Home, where the children will be able to use the winter items.

In addition to the trees, the festival provided musical entertainment.

Festival sponsors were Food Lion, F & amp;M Bank and Sara Lee.

For more information about the Arc/Rowan, log on to its Web site, www. arcrowan.org.