UTICA- It may be the first year the Ziyara Shriners host their Feztival of Trees, however it most certainly won’t be their last. Sunday, hundreds of Utica residents filed into the Masonic Community Care Campus to have a chance at winning Christmas trees and presents.
The Shriners have nearly 25 different trees up for auction this week. The trees range from cooking themed, Utica Comets themed, to even a money tree with $600 attached to it. The process to win a tree and presents is simple.
“All you have to do is come down to the Community Center, purchase a book of twenty-five tickets and place them into the trees,” said Steve Armstrong, Ziyara Shriners High Priest & Prophet.
The Ziyara Shriner’s are a brotherhood who not only looks out for each other but also the community.
“We want to be able to have more fundraisers like these,” said Wayne Towne, Ziyara Shriners Potentate. “It helps us bring kids to hospitals and do what we can to help out the kids.”
This event is a weeklong public event, with the drawings being revealed on November 26th, 2017.