A big crowd turned out for the town's 3rd annual Festival of Trees at the new fire hall. Seventeen trees and nine wreaths were on display, lighting up the fire hall and getting everyone into the Christmas spirit. Captain Dan Schmidt with the Whitewood Fire Department says the festival also serves as a fundraiser where the funds are split evenly between the volunteer fire department and the 8-10 women's club.

Schmidt says, "I think the biggest thing for this is not the funds that you're splitting or the money that you hope is coming in, but the camaraderie and the people meeting old friends and making new friends. Most of the people here have at one time known each other, but they're maybe just reuniting again, so that's the big thing."

Schmidt says Whitewood's Festival of Trees grows every year.

Tessa Thomas