KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An annual holiday event that fills a Knoxville convention center with a forest of carefully decorated trees attracted thousands of visitors this year.
A release said the 40th annual Fantasy of Trees event raised around $1.9 million for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital — a slightly larger number than last year. It also said the event brought out around 61,000 people to see the trees and enjoy some of the holiday fun that organizers had lined up.
In previous years, the money went to the hospital's neurology program or its ambulance system. This year, the organizers said the money would go to "the area of greatest need."
"From diapers for NICU patients to large pieces of equipment like a new MRI machine, every dollar positively impacts a child’s life. The hospital’s needs change daily to meet the needs of the children in our region and beyond to provide expert, customized care plans," the release said.
While the Fantasy of Trees gave people a chance to see dazzling Christmas trees, the Gala Among the Trees invited people to enjoy live music, food, drinks and a silent auction. The gala also gave ticketholders first dibs to buy some of the trees.
The Fantasy of Trees event went from Nov. 27 through Dec. 1. It's an annual event and one of the largest fundraisers for the hospital.
