The festival is Kennedy Krieger?s annual fundraiser and the largest holiday-themed event in the mid-Atlantic region. Featuring more than 300 decorated trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses designed by local residents, businesses and community groups, the festival also offers homemade crafts, silent auctions, live entertainment and 50,000 square feet of activities for kids.

“This festival is very important to Kennedy Krieger,” LeBow-Sachs said. “We want to raise a substantial amount for research, patient care and new programs. With the festival, we feel like we are doing something for the community because we are really all about families. When you have a child with a disability, it?s the entire family who has to deal with it.”

More than 100 volunteers work to set up the festival about a week in advance. The cow palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds is transformed from a drab, neutral-colored warehouse into a sparkling winter wonderland. Trains chug around visitors? feet. Giant peppermint candies, decorated trees, a penguin-inhabited wishing well and a brightly lit carousel welcome visitors.

Kelley Marcue, a therapy center specialist in Kennedy Krieger?s Child Life Therapeutic Recreation Department, helped her patients decorate a 7-foot tree for the festival. “This year?s theme is ?Diversitree,? which celebrates the diverse world we all live in, anywhere from religions to abilities to cultures.”

LeBow-Sachs said Kennedy Krieger is always trying to add something new. “This year, we have pony rides, which we are calling ?Reindeer Rides,? and we are really excited about that.”

Another new element this year includes the ever-expanding SantaLand, a fun zone for kids complete with a carousel, carnival games and craft stations. Children can write their own letters to Santa and drop them in his official mailbox, with express delivery to the North Pole.

Ellicott City resident Kathy Borisko has been participating in the festival for nine years. She helps local children bake and decorate gingerbread houses. “There are five houses in our gingerbread neighborhood this year,” she said. “We have a church, candy store, school, some houses and a farm.”

But LeBow-Sachs says the best part is helping the kids at Kennedy Krieger. “The festival is just phenomenal. We encourage everyone to come.”

Village Bakers make festival a tradition

It?s been nine years since Kathy Borisko and her Village Bakers started bringing gingerbread creations to Kennedy Krieger?s Festival of Trees.”My daughter was in Girl Scouts, and I was a troop leader, and we decided to do it as a benefit for a friend who uses Kennedy Krieger services,” Borisko said.

After baking all the gingerbread house pieces, Borisko would gather several children from her Ellicott City neighborhood to decorate the houses. Now, though the group has gotten smaller, Borisko continues to bake with her daughter, son and their friends.

“We used to do separate houses, and that was nice, but then we started thinking, why not do more of a village?” Borisko said.

They decided against a theme this year. “We just designed them from scratch. The kids came over the Sunday before the festival, and we build and decorate.”

And since she?s been making gingerbread so long, Borisko knows all the tricks of the trade. “Don?t use molasses! I tried a recipe with molasses, and while it gave the gingerbread a darker, richer color, it just marbled things, and the kids had to start over,” she said.

IF YOU GO

Kennedy Krieger?s 18th Annual Festival of Trees

WHERE: Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Towson

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

TICKETS: $5 to $10

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