Carolers singing outside of Preservation Hall

Newburgh began their Historic Newburgh Celebrates Christmas Celebration December 2, 2011 with a Festival of Trees party benefitting Warrick County’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. Preservation Hall  downtown Newburgh was adorned with a dozen fully decorated Christmas trees and other Christmas items donated by individuals and area businesses. These items were available for viewing and silent auction throughout the weekend. The party was the kick-off to a fun-filled holiday weekend.




Kate Fischer, who is both Chairman of Christmas in Newburgh and President of Warrick County CASA, reflected on the origin of the Festival of Trees party: “We needed something that would create a draw. Carol Schafer and I sat down and brainstormed and came up with this.”

Carol Jones at Preservation Hall in Newburgh

Christmas Trees for auction in Preservation Hall

The Festival of Trees party had beautifully lit trees giving the room a dreamy holiday atmosphere. The trees were all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some trees were traditional with beautiful ribbon bows while others were pink or white with an eye for a child’s room. There were trees that came with extra features, such as a free tooth whitening visit and take-home kit offered by a local dentist! All trees were accompanied by a description of the tree and wishes for the holiday season.

The party featured food from: Café Arazu, Edgewater Grille, Tin Fish, Turoni’s, Knob Hill and Mulberry Jean’s. It was A Taste of Newburgh as all of the restaurants were from Newburgh. Steve Small and Jon Lutz filled the room with holiday music as people ate their goodies and admired the Christmas trees.

Aimee Gina McCalaster from Mulberry Jeans

Carol Schaefer, Executive Director of Historic Newburgh, Inc.
and Phyllis Bussing pose by the Cat In The Hat Christmas Tree in Preservation Hall

Christmas trees in general fill us with hope; when we look at a Christmas tree, we remember that sometimes dreams come true and there really is love in the world.

Most of the trees were claimed by 5:00 pm Monday evening, but the room was filled with the memories of the weekend. Tom Burkhardt was there to pick up the tree his wife bid on and took a few minutes to share his thoughts on the event: “My kids, my wife we all enjoyed it—it was neat. There’s not too many throw back towns like Newburgh. It’s really neat to see this kind of experience it kind of brings you back to when you were a kid.”

 Newspaper boys/men were in costume handing out

 the news about all the Events in Newburgh outside

 Preservation Hall where the Festival of Trees took place 

on this Historic Newburgh Celebrates Christmas weekend. 



Janet Stout, retired costume designer, helped Newburgh travel back to the 1800’s on Saturday December 3rd.  Walking the sidewalks to the quaint restaurants or shops is always a treat, but on that day there were musicians on the corners, ladies with big hats warming their hands with muffs and men with top hats using canes.  It was exciting and the town was abuzz with shopping.  Stout has much experience in costuming having worked in Hollywood with television and movies for twenty years.  She is now with Castle High School in the Drama department

Susan Stein, Kate fischer, and Pam Lene' standing by the Warrick County CASA Christmas Tree.  Money collected from the Festival of Trees celebration went to Warrick County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and Historic Newburgh, Inc.  Kate Fischer (the woman in red) is the executive Director of CASA and the other two women are Advocates (retired school teachers).