Holiday happenings

Like turkey is to Thanksgiving, the Festival of Trees is to Christmas. It's a Salt Lake tradition. The fact that it raises money to cover medical expenses at Primary Children's Medical Center for needy children adds meaning to the fun. Last year the event raised approximately $1.2 million, all of which benefitted children in need.

Sharon Crown of Salem is one of many people who are decorating and donating a tree. She has been cross-stitching tiny teddy bears since February. Each one takes nine to 10 hours to complete. She then puts them in shiny gold frames with gold ties. She's also decorating wooden hearts in a teddy-bear motif.

Crown is donating her teddy-bear tree to the festival as an expression of gratitude to Primary Children's Medical Center for taking such good care of her niece, who has a rare heart condition. Not even a year old, she's already had two heart surgeries. She'll have another surgery when she's 2, said her aunt, and then she'll be put on a heart transplant list.

"She's doing wonderfully now. She's like a normal little baby. You wouldn't even know (about her condition) unless you saw the scar on her chest," said Crown.

The Festival of Trees isn't the only game in town. Numerous other events take place between now and New Year's. Some benefit charities; some don't. Some are free; some aren't. Downtown malls will turn on their lights Friday evening as will Temple Square.

From a creche display in Midway to an old-fashioned Christmas at Pipe Spring National Monument near Kanab, here are a few events along the Wasatch Front and beyond we think are extra special.

Festival of Trees

When: Dec. 3-Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Where: South Towne Expo Center (9575 South State)

Cost: $4 adults; $2.50 seniors and children; Wednesday family day: $13; discount tickets available at Zions Banks

Web: www.thechildfirstandalways.com

Significance: 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity care for children at Primary Children's Medical Center. "If you buy a cookie, you're helping a child," says Earlene Rex, publicity chairwoman for the festival. Even the price of your ticket goes into the coffer, which last year sent approximately $1.2 million to the medical center.

Holiday Lights at Thanksgiving Point

When: Nov. 28-Jan. 3, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Closed Sundays, Christmas and New Year's Day.)