As the colder and darker days move in, we invite you into the warm and magical holiday forest of the Tread of Pioneers Museum’s 30th Annual Festival of Trees. This pre-holiday tradition runs through the end of the month from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day.

Yampa Valley Bank returns as our presenting sponsor, and Steamboat Ace Hardware and Dusky Grouse Coffee are supporting sponsors. With their support, the Festival is always free to all Routt County residents (regular admission fees for out-of-town visitors). The Festival is the museum’s primary fundraising event, and proceeds support the museum’s many preservation and educational activities.

This family-focused event transforms the museum into a sparkling arrangement of over two dozen holiday trees uniquely decorated by creative local nonprofit organizations, schools, clubs, and businesses. This year, 29 sponsoring businesses and 29 decorator groups plus the museum’s volunteer corps, make this a true community event.

“Every year, dozens of people tell us that this is their favorite holiday tradition,” said event organizer and museum executive director Candice Bannister. “People who grew up in Steamboat Springs or have been visiting for decades come back with their children and grandchildren each year to get into the holiday spirit.”

While at the Festival, you can vote for your favorite tree in the tree decorating competition and enter to win various exciting prizes. Kids can do a scavenger hunt to search for the magical “golden keys” hidden in the trees and everyone receives a prize for participating. The Victorian house is also decorated for the holidays to take you back in time to experience pioneer holidays from the past.

Families are invited to “Pioneer Christmas Story-time for Kids” 11 a.m. Saturday. Museum staff dressed in period costumes share pioneer and Victorian holiday traditions and local stories for the whole family. The event is free to all local families.

While you visit the Festival, the Museum Store is a great place to find locally-made products, historical photographs, books, Advent calendars, ornaments and old-fashioned toys that will bring joy to everyone on your holiday shopping list.

After we deliver the trees to their sponsors’ chosen locations on Dec. 3, the public can continue to see the trees around town throughout the holiday season. It’s the event that keeps on giving.