125 TREES, 75,000 LIGHTS, 1,000 SQ. FT. SKATING RINK, 20 STAGE PERFORMANCES, ONE GIANT GINGERBREAD HOUSE AND A JOLLY OLD ST. NICK = 2nd ANNUAL SEA FESTIVAL OF TREES Blue Ocean Music Hall Event to be held Friday, November 21 – Saturday, December 6 (Salisbury, MA) The 2nd annual Sea Festival of Trees lights up the Massachusetts seacoast in 2014 with 15 days of Christmas beginning Friday, November 21st. Held at the spacious Blue Ocean Music Hall and new Blue Ocean Event Center located directly on the ocean at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, the annual holiday fundraiser is expanding to two floors and will be open to the public Saturday, November 22 through Saturday, December 6. Presented by Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, Sea Festival of Trees is designed to raise funds for designated local charities, and establish a fun holiday tradition for seacoast families and the general public. In 2013, a two-day event yielded $24,000 in donations to Anna Jaques Hospital and the Salisbury Beach Partnership. With a goal of 125 trees in 2014, to date more than 85 themed trees have been donated to the event by businesses, civic organizations, elected officials, student groups, work colleagues, and individuals (see full list of Tree Donors attached). Participants are invited to showcase their decorating talents for the benefit of the two non-profit organizations and donate a 2 foot- to 10 foot- tall artificial tree decorated with a theme of their choosing. There is no fee to enter a tree; the tree and its adornments are considered the donation. The deadline for tree entry is November 10, 2014. DAILY HAPPENINGS & HOURS AT THE SEA FESTIVAL OF TREES The Sea Festival of Trees will be open to the public on Saturday, November 22 through Saturday, December 6 (see full schedule of hours at end). Admission to the holiday wonderland is $5. Tickets will be sold at the Blue Ocean Music Hall box office on a first-come, first-served basis daily during Sea Festival of Trees hours. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and enter to win the themed trees of their choosing. The following is included in daily admission: Viewing of Approximately 120 Sparkling Trees & Designer Wreaths Visitors will walk through a maze of beautifully decorated 2 foot- to 10 foot-high artificial trees on two levels that create a breathtaking array of color and lights to form the centerpiece of the Sea Festival of Trees. Giant Gingerbread House Display New England’s largest whimsical confectionary creation will be on display in Blue Ocean Event Center lobby. This year’s giant gingerbread house features icons of Salisbury’s past and present, and a glimpse into the future when a boardwalk and fishing pier become part of the beach landscape. The 8-foot-tall sugary structure is constructed of edible gingerbread, candy, frosting and other colorful holiday sweets. NEW for 2014! Seaside Winter Wonderland Ice Skating Rink Blue Ocean Event Center’s indoor synthetic skating rink, Seaside Ice, will feature ice skating performances, meet and greets with former pro-hockey players, and public skating hours (to be announced). No hats, gloves and jackets required. Skate to holiday music with breathtaking views of the ocean on 1,000 square feet of artificial ice. Public is invited to bring their skates to enjoy a fun day or night out by the sea. Skate rentals are not available. Ages 4 and up: $5. Children 3 and under are free. Electric Train Display Adults and children will be awed watching electric trains chug around scenic tracks in a mesmerizing pattern. North East Trains of Peabody, an experienced 20-year authorized retailer of thousands of model kits and electric trains made by Lionel, Mike’s Train House and more, will provide a magical electric train display for viewing inside the Sea Festival of Trees. Holiday Stage Entertainment Regional musicians, dance troupes, choirs and artists will perform on stage in Blue Ocean Music Hall at various times throughout the Festival for the enjoyment of festival attendees. North Pole Cafe The new Blue Sky concession area on the upper level will offer fresh sandwich wraps, home-made pizza, fruit cups, cookies, chips and a full bar. Seating is available in the adjacent Atlantic Ballroom where visitors can dine at café tables and chairs while enjoying panoramic views of the Atlantic to the Merrimack River and Cape Ann. North Pole Gift & Candy Shoppe The Festival’s North Pole Shoppe will be filled with delectable holiday candies, festive ornaments and holiday gifts for purchase. Sea Festival of Trees Special Events: Grand Tree Lighting Spectacular & VIP Preview Event Friday, November 21 Blue Ocean Music Hall and the new Blue Ocean Event Center 7:30pm-11:00pm Tickets: $20 per person A FUNdraiser featuring the inaugural grand lighting of up to 100 trees, desserts and decadence with music by Chuck Walker Jazz Duo and Charlie Farren in Blue Ocean Music Hall. More trees and dancing on ice hosted by DJ Jaz take place in Blue Ocean Event Center. Guests will enjoy dessert stations and a complimentary welcome cocktail. Tree award winners will be announced at the gala. To purchase tickets, call Megan at 978.465-2000 x119 or buy on-line at www.seafestivaloftrees.com. Santa’s Arrival By Fire Truck Saturday, November 22 11am Sound the sirens and ring the bell! Santa arrives at the Sea Festival of Trees by fire truck on Saturday morning November 22nd at 11am, courtesy of the Salisbury Fire Department. The jolly old fellow joins the fun inside Sea Festival of Trees where children and families can visit with Santa during specified hours. Holiday Strolling Characters Friday, Saturday and Sunday Various Times Visitors will meet a jolly, happy soul and a mean green one as Frosty the Snowman and the jolly green Grinch prance amongst the trees to say hi and pose for photos with the young and young at heart. Paint & Sip Amongst the Trees with The Artist Bar Monday, December 1 7:00pm-9:00pm $45 As seen on ABC-TV Boston’s Chronicle, The Artist Bar is the North Shore’s premiere “paint and sip” experience. Led by fine artist Jennifer Clement, participants will paint an original winter wonderland scene surrounded by sparkling Festival trees. Class includes hands-on instruction, canvas, paints and art supplies. Space is limited. Reservations can be made on-line at www.theartistbar.com. [EDITOR’S NOTE: Clement is donating a painting, valued at $6,000, to the Sea Festival of Trees Showcase Tree Raffle.] Gingerbread House Workshop Wednesday, December 3 Recommended for ages 6 and up 6:00pm-8:00pm $50 per person Decorate a take-home, edible gingerbread house with a colorful assortment of holiday candies, gum drops, royal icing and more. Includes “how-to” instruction by Giant Gingerbread House baker Jim Shalkoski. Participants learn how to make mini marshmallow snowmen, tootsie roll log piles, candy cane doorways, ribbon candy sleighs, pretzel picket fences, M&M roofs and more. Price per person includes a pre-constructed gingerbread house and base, premium decorating goodies, dinner featuring a pasta station, salad bar, rolls and sweet treats. Space is limited; seating is at tables of 6. To reserve a spot, call Seaglass Restaurant at 978-462-5800. Polar Express Pajama & Pizza Party Friday, December 5 Sponsored by Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank Recommended for ages up to 12 years old with adult. 6:30pm-8:30pm $35 per person Pajama-clad children and adults take a land-based adventure through the endearing children’s book The Polar Express written by Chris Van Allsburg. Evening includes a pizza party, reading of The Polar Express book by a jovial conductor, Polar Express-themed scavenger hunt through the Sea Festival of Trees, rich and thick hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies delivered by servers in white chef coats and hats, visit from Mr. Claus, and a silver bell for every child from Santa’s elves. SEA FESTIVAL OF TREES HOURS (subject to change) Saturday, November 22 10am-9pm Sunday, November 23 10am-5pm Monday, November 24 5pm-9pm Tuesday, November 25 5pm-9pm Wednesday, November 26 5pm-9pm Thursday, November 27 CLOSED! Happy Thanksgiving Friday, November 28 10am-9pm Saturday, November 29 10am-9pm Sunday, November 30 10am-5pm Monday, December 1 5pm-9pm Tuesday, December 2 5pm-9pm Wednesday, December 3 5pm-9pm Thursday, December 4 5pm-9pm Friday, December 5 5pm-9pm Saturday, December 6 10am-6pm TREE WINNERS: Tree raffle winners will be announced on Saturday evening, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. For updated information and a full schedule of events, visit www.seafestivaloftrees.com or call 978.462.2512. To donate a tree, please email mjdesmond@atlantichg.com or call 978-551-3551. ABOUT ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL Anna Jaques Hospital is a 123-bed community hospital serving 17 cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Offering a wide range of acute care services to meet patient needs, AJH is clinically affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard teaching hospital. AJH provides inpatient and outpatient surgery, a diagnostic cardiac cath lab, a non-invasive vascular lab, and a birth center with OB/GYN, midwifery, and neonatology. Programs include a leading wound center, a primary stroke service, a comprehensive cancer center, the new Gerrish Breast Care Center and a Level III Trauma Center. The hospital has been named one of the Boston Business Journal’s top 10 places to work in Massachusetts in 2010 and 2012. www.ajh.org ABOUT SALISBURY BEACH PARTNERSHIP Salisbury Beach Partnership, Inc. exists to maintain and revitalize Salisbury Beach by developing programs and initiatives that provide cultural enrichment, strengthen the beach as a community asset, and preserve the beach’s unique natural assets. During summer months, the Partnership presents festivals, outdoor concerts and weekly fireworks show free to the public. www.beachfests.org ABOUT BLUE OCEAN MUSIC HALL AND THE NEW BLUE OCEAN EVENT CENTER Blue Ocean Music Hall is a state-of-the-art intimate concert, entertainment and private function venue on the Atlantic Ocean. Blue Ocean hosts close to 100 national acts, comedians, and fundraiser shows annually as well as weddings, corporate and social events. Blue Ocean Event Center is North of Boston’s premiere new destination for weddings, corporate and social events at the water’s edge. Blue Ocean Music Hall is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean at 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury Beach, MA. -30-