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85 trees raise funds for local charities
Amana’s Tannenbaum Forest welcomes visitors through Dec. 22
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
AMANA — Kassie Bott, of Fireside Winery, and volunteers from Compass Memorial Healthcare greeted visitors to the Tannenbaum Forest in Amana Friday afternoon.
The Tannenbaum Forest, made up of 85 trees decorated by local businesses, organizations and families, will raise money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and four local charities.
Visitors followed a path through the unheated, historic barn, admiring Christmas trees, a Nativity, Santa’s sleigh and a 17-foot German Christmas pyramid, many sipping cocoa.
Volunteers from local businesses will continue to welcome visitors to the century-old Festhalle Barn at 4707 220th Trail in Amana, through Dec. 22.
Amana Foresty provides the trees for the display each year, said Kayleigh Mayers, of the Amana Colonies Visitors Bureau. Amana Foresty didn’t have enough Christmas-type trees this year and had to supplement their inventory with trees from a vendor in Cedar Falls.
“Over the years we’ve been dwindling down on trees,” said Myers. “All the funky big trees are from our forests.”
Nonprofit organizations and businesses that are members of the Visitors Bureau pay $60 for a tree. Other businesses and families pay $80, said Myers.
“We set them up, get power to them,” said Myers. The rest — lights, ribbons, ornaments — are left to those who bought the trees.
Admission to the Tannenbaum Forest is free, but donations are welcome. Proceeds will be given to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Safe Haven, Compass Memorial Healthcare’s Hope for All cancer charity, Clear Creak Amana PTO and the Amana food pantry.
The Christmas pyramid was built by four or five local residents about 24 years ago, said Myers. “This has been happening for 24 years.”
Charlie Brown displays his unique, sparse tree, easily distinguishable among the fullness of the other trees.
Near the cocoa and marshmallow table is a table of cards that children can fill with Christmas wishes and drop in a box for Santa.
Steve and Deb Acheson, from Dike, west of Waterloo, saw the Forest for the first time this year.
“It’s cool,” said Steve. “A nice idea.”
The couple visits Amana occasionally, drawn by the restaurants, shops and fabric store, but they’ve never visited the Tannebaum Forest before.
“It’s very pretty,” said Deb.
After the display closes for the season, Amana Forestry uses the trees for mulch, said Myers.
Forest schedule
Friday, Dec. 13: noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 20: noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 22: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa’s schedule
Friday, Dec. 13: 1-6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15: noon to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
