Residents are asked to “Believe in the Magic of the Season” when they attend the 2017 Festival of Trees, the annual auction fundraiser for The Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund.

The Festival of Trees, aka Bradford’s First Christmas Party of the Season, will be held Nov. 16 at The Bradford Club, according to Rhonda Gray, an ELF board member and longtime volunteer for the event.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the auction preview, with a welcome greeting at 6 p.m. and live auction at 6:30 p.m. Organizers estimate the event will wrap up around 9 p.m.

The event offers residents a chance to find unique Christmas gifts from local artisans and businesses while raising money so needy children and senior citizens have something under the tree on Christmas morning.

This year’s event will include a live auction, silent auction, a basket drawing and a 50/50 drawing.

“There will also be a gift tree from which to choose a present for a chance to win a prize,” said Gray.

The organizing committee is still collecting donated items for the auction block, and residents are invited to share their own holiday spirit by decorating Christmas items for auction.

“If anyone would like to decorate a tree, wreath or mantle garland for an auction item The ELF Fund has a few on hand for the asking,” Gray noted.

She said auction items can be dropped off at Foster Brook Glass at 589 South Ave. in the rear of the AAA plaza. The deadline for auction items is Nov. 6.

Tickets to the event are on sale now for $20 each. They are available at the door or at one of five outlets: Tops, Timeless Treasures on Chestnut Street, Santo Vida Wellness on Main Street and the Northwest Bank locations on Main Street and East Main Street/Derrick Road.

A ticket provides entrance to the event, food, live music and the chance to bid on an array of local items.

While the group is still gathering items, they already have an assorted collection of gift ideas.

“Auction items this year will include rustic handcrafted items, sporting goods, overnight stay packages, food and wine baskets, beauty and spa baskets, sports fan packages and some pretty amazing gift items to help you start checking off those names on your list,” said Gray.

“New this year is the method by which we will offer the commemorative Case knife and Zippo lighter,” she noted. “They will be offered by silent ballot box bidding. The winners will be announced near the end of the evening.”

And what is a party without the ringing of music in the air?

“Entertainment will be provided this year by pianist Shelly Wright, who will be getting us into the holiday gift-giving spirit,” said Gray.

Gray added that starting this year, local school students will be invited to lend a hand.

She explained, “each year we will be asking a local school to create centerpieces for our event. We give them the theme and provide supplies if required; they provide the imagination and the genuine heartfelt meaning of Christmas according to a child.

“The Learning Center will be creating this year’s centerpieces,” she said.

Questions about the event can be addressed by calling Gray at 362-9899 or by messaging her through the Festival of Trees Facebook page.

The event has become a tradition in the community.

“This is the 16th annual Festival of Trees auction and is the only fundraiser for The ELF Fund, now in its 34th year of ensuring no child or senior citizen goes without a gift to open on Christmas morning,” according to Gray, who noted that the organization is now reaching beyond the holiday season.

“We ‘elves’ are also exploring ways to reach out to community children and senior citizens throughout the year, not just at Christmas time,” she said. “Please like our Facebook page or refer to our webpage for upcoming events.”

The ELF Fund season will kick off officially Nov. 1, when the annual kick-off breakfast will be held at at the First Presbyterian Church.

At that time, gift tags featuring the Christmas wishes of needy children and senior citizens in the Bradford Area School District will be distributed. Volunteer gift shoppers will be able to find the tags on trees in businesses around Bradford.

They will be able to drop off gifts Nov. 28, 29, and 30, and Dec. 2. Distribution day will be Dec. 8.

The ELF season will come to a close with the annual senior Christmas party, to be held Dec. 10 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.