The 17th annual Christmas Festival for Children and Holiday Boutique is this week, benefitting the Wasatch County Children’s Justice Center.
Laurie Wynn, an organizer for the event, says the festival brings in 100 to 200 gingerbread houses made by community members, businesses and government employees that range in price from $10 to $1,000.
“They are donated and then silent auctioned off," Wynn said. "We also have an amazing holiday boutique for a lot of Christmas shopping. We’ll have gingerbread-man cookie decorating for the kids. We have amazing entertainment, and all of the proceeds that are made during this event go to our Children's Justice Center over there in Heber City.”
Wynn says the holiday boutique features items made by local vendors, such as wreaths, candy and fudge. The event also features live entertainment, face painting and photos with Santa.
Wynn says it’s the main fundraiser for the Children’s Justice Center, which works to provide a comfortable and safe space for survivors of child abuse to receive services. Wynn hopes to raise $15,000 to $20,000 this year.
“That just helps us support the Children's Justice Center—provide training for our law enforcement officers that interview the kids there at our center, and just basic needs for our facility.”
The Christmas Festival for Children and Holiday Boutique is Friday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wasatch County Special Events Center in Heber City. Entrance to the festival is free, though donations to the Children’s Justice Center are welcome.