It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We know, we know. It’s not yet Thanksgiving. But the Festival of Trees, held during Thanksgiving week, is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Memorial’s 28th annual Festival of Trees will be held November 18 through November 26 at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. INB has enthusiastically supported this wonderful event for years by sponsoring a tree and providing an ATM so patrons have access to cash, if needed.

This year, INB has sponsored a 7’tree for the Festival and invited many in the community to the event through ticket giveaways. During Customer Appreciation Week, in mid-October, INB branches in Sangamon County and Mt. Pulaski offered customers a chance to win one of 80 pairs of tickets (along with other prizes) as part of a “Spin the Wheel” game.

Plan Your Visit

This year, the Festival of Trees hours include:

• 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 18, Nov. 20-22 and Nov. 24-25
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 and Nov. 26
• 4-8 p.m. Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving Day)

Admission for Memorial’s Festival of Trees, with the theme of “Skates, Sleds and Snow,” is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for children 2 and younger. Adults 65 and older receive a reduced admission of $3 on Tuesday, Nov. 21, which is designated as Senior Day.

Visitors will see more than 200 decorated trees and wreaths and the return of festival attractions, including the Gingerbread Village, Boutique, Little Elves’ Workshop, Candy Cane Express Train and Holiday Kitchen. Children and adults can have their photos taken with Santa.

In the last 27 years of operation, Memorial’s Festival of Trees has raised more than $4.6 million for health-related projects and programs for Memorial Health System and the Springfield community.

Not only are we thrilled to be a part of this great event, but we are also proud of be able to display our beautiful trees from years past in our Main Branch lobby and throughout our downtown buildings for our employees to enjoy.

Put Bloomington Festival on the Agenda, too

For the first time, INB is sponsoring the Bloomington-Normal Festival of Trees. Proceeds from the event go to The Baby Fold, an organization that helps families and children develop the hope, courage and love children need to become whole and healthy. Bloomington’s festival is held at the Interstate Center. Hours are:

• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 19