CHESHIRE, Mass. — There is still time to experience the festive atmosphere of the Community House. 

 

The moment you step into the town offices, you're greeted by the scent of fresh pine wafting from about 70 beautifully decorated trees on display. 

 

The town's festival of trees will be on display Monday through Thursday from 10 to 4, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 8, and Sunday from 10 to 5 until Dec. 31. The building will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. 

 

The idea started four years ago with Department of Public Works Director Corey McGrath's vision to display a decorated, lighted tree in all 13 windows of the Community House, the former Cheshire School.

 

A large part of it was to bring the community back into the building that was a mess five years ago, he said. 

 

The purpose of the building is in its name — a community pillar housing the town offices and Youth Center Inc., and a community hub featuring activities from dancing, craft fairs, wrestling, and more.  

 

Since its establishment, the display has grown into the festival it is today featuring raffles, a Christmas village, nutcrackers, and, of course, trees.

 

The display is the thing that gets the most people in the Community House. The month-long installation has brought hundreds, if not thousands into the building, McGrath said. 

 

"It's a good opportunity to showcase the building," Select Board Vice Chair Jason Levesque said. 

 

Liseann Karandisecky recollected how her 92-year-old father and her daughter attended the building when it was the elementary school.  

 

Karandisecky serves on several committees including Historical Commission, Open Space, and the Hoosac Lake Recreation and Preservation District. 

 

"It's been in this community for such a long time. We want to keep it here and viable," she said. 

 

The festival brings the community together, Town Administrator Jennifer Morse said. 

 

Organizations from across the county unleash their creativity, adorning trees with imaginative decorations that reflect their unique styles, interests, or expertise, she said.

 

"The amazing part is how many businesses and individuals came together to individually design their own tree in a bunch of different designs. It's amazing and gets more creative every year," Morse said. 

 

Resident and Common Table owner CJ Garner let the town borrow his nutcrackers and Christmas Village buildings and figurines that are on display surrounding the center's indoor pond. 

 

Exhibit highlights include the Fire Department's imaginative display of a firefighter extinguishing a blaze, Berkshire Outfitters' humorous scene of Santa in a skiing mishap, the Senior Center's whimsical tree gnome, Santa using a porta-potty courtesy of Berkshire Septic Village Truck Sales, and the Hoosac Lake Recreation and Preservation District's enchanting tableau of animals gazing into a window at a glowing tree — and so much more.

 

These examples are just a taste of the festive atmosphere that has become the community hub. 

 

Participating entities also include Whitney's Farm, Drury High School, Sheds-N-Stuff, the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, Adams Community Bank, Martin Farm, the Snack Shack, Northern Berkshire Community Television, Keeper of the Flags, and more. 

 

Participants covered the cost of their tree and decorations but displayed them for free. 

 

After walking through the installation, visitors are asked to nominate their favorite tree and the winner gets a free tree next year.

 

Visitors can also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a variety of items donated by community organizations including a newborn baby girl raffle basket from the senior center, a wooden lighthouse from Sheds-N-Stuff, baseball memorabilia from Baseball in the Berkshires, art supplies from the youth center, and more. 

 

Raffle tickets are $5 a sheet or $20 for five sheets. All proceeds go to the Recreation Committee for future events. 

 

This year's festival was also part of the town's annual tree lighting which featured a hayride to town center, Santa, s'mores, and more.