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2019 Wreath Festival Fundraiser

Information for attendees of the Celebrate & Decorate sessions

 

Wreath Festival is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It raises more than $80,000 for our educational programs.

We are grateful for your support!

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*This event sells-out. We cannot accept walk-ins to any portion of the event. A ticket is required for both the pavilion and decorating sessions. Tickets are not sold at the door. Attendees must be 21 and over.

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What's different this year?

In an effort to be more Earth friendly, we’ve scaled back our offerings of gold and silver spray painted materials. We will still have many other beautiful items keeping in line with our offerings of natural materials. If a lot of gold and silver are a must for you, please feel free to bring a few of your own items to include on your wreath (but remember, no aerosol/sprays allowed at the event).  

 

Where should I park?
Park along the sides of our driveway. Please carpool whenever possible. We have a long and narrow dirt driveway. Depending on what time you arrive, you may have to park a short distance away and walk up. Though our driveway is lighted in some areas, we suggest evening attendees bring a flashlight to ensure your safe passage. You can help make parking an easy experience for everyone in the following ways…do not park head in; parallel park only and pull as far over as possible; close the gap between the car in front of/behind you whenever possible; always leave room for traffic to flow; do not attempt to turn around in the middle of the driveway. There is a turnaround at the top of the driveway. If necessary, proceed to the top and follow the turn around. If you are getting out of your vehicle on the wooded side, watch your step. Some areas have a slight drop off.

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How does the timing work?
6:30 session attendees: When you arrive, check in with staff and pick out your wreath at the wreath tent, then head in to the Nature Center for decorating. When done decorating, please re-sort your unused materials to the baskets and bins in the materials room. Your decorating session ends at 8:15pm. At that time your group can move to the pavilion for fireside relaxing and enjoying your refreshments. The pavilion remains open until the event ends at 11pm.  
8:30 session attendees: The Pavilion will open at 7pm for fireside relaxing and enjoying your refreshments before wreath making. At 8:15pm we begin sending groups to the Nature Center for decorating. Please gather your belongings and be ready to move on at that time. You can check in with staff and pick out your wreath at the wreath tent, then head in to the Nature Center to decorate. When done decorating, please re-sort your unused materials to the baskets and bins in the materials room. Your decorating session ends at 10:15pm. The decorating rooms will close at that time. Feel free to return to the pavilion to continue your celebration if you wish. The pavilion will be open until the event ends at 11pm.  

Daytime session attendees: The event will run from 11am – 1:30pm. When you arrive, come to the wreath tent to check in (on the hill in front of the Nature Center). From there you can opt to decorate your wreath in the Nature Center first and then head to the pavilion fireside relaxing or vice versa. If you plan to spend time in the pavilion first, please head to the Nature Center to decorate your wreath no later than 12:30pm (to ensure you have enough time to finish before the event ends at 1:30pm).  

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What should I bring?
Food, beverages, bottle openers, cups, paper goods, utensils and a trash bag (we do not provide any of these items). You will be sharing space with other groups. Please consider this when making your food choices (allergens, odors, etc.). You will be moving your party from the pavilion to the nature center or vice versa. Bring only what you can carry conveniently and please consider the environment when planning your celebration.

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What should I leave at home?
We do not allow the following: aerosol cans (no spray-able décor or fragrances), open flames (no candles, sterno, etc), music (we provide our own festive soundtrack; please don’t play personal music in the decorating rooms).

 

What should I do with my trash?

We have limited trash disposal resources. Please bring a trash bag to collect your group’s trash and plan to discard of it at home. We will be collecting empty bottles, etc. for recycling.

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I hate to be wasteful. What can I do with my leftover food/drink?
Bring them home for your hungry family, or better yet…notify our hungry, hardworking staff, who will gladly take and enjoy them! 

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Why do you ask us to re-sort our unused decorating materials?

Someone might be looking for the same materials you have left over in your bin. Help make those items available to others by re-sorting them in the materials room when you’re done. Re-sorting also helps our hardworking staff reset for the next session. Thank you!

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I’m clueless about how to decorate my wreath. Do you have any ideas?

Yes! We'll have many inspiration photos hanging on the wall in the materials room. Take a look for some great ideas.

 

How should I dress?
We want you to be comfortable! Dress how you like but we recommend you wear appropriate footwear for walking our dirt driveway, wood chipped grounds and gravel pavilion (and potentially muddy paths!). You will be outdoors at times, walking between your car, the Nature Center, the Pavilion and the wreath tent. The Nature Center and Pavilion are enclosed and heated.

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Will there be a raffle to win great prizes as you've had in the past?

Yes! Our fundraising raffle offers chances to win wonderful prizes including unique Woodcock experiences. There will also be an opportunity to adopt one of our resident animals (providing financial support for their care). Cash, checks and credit/debit cards will be accepted. ​

 

What about winter weather?

If a winter storm prohibits us from running an evening's event, we will send an email to that night's attendees as well as put a message on our website, social media and outgoing voicemail. 

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​​I have more questions. Who can I talk to?
Feel free to call our office at (203) 762-7280 or email us at wnc@woodcocknaturecenter.org.

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