Saturday, November 21, 2009 East Central Illinois

2009 Festival of Trees to feature new events, faces

By Pat Phillips
Sunday, October 4, 2009 8:54 AM CDT

DANVILLE – Some new events and new faces will add even more activities to the annual Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation Festival of Trees set for Nov. 14 through 18 at the David S. Palmer Arena, 100 W. Main St.

New to the festival is Thaddeus Rex and his 10-foot dinosaur who will join Ronald McDonald on Nov. 15, Family Day, for Ronald & A Rock Star.

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Thaddeus Rex was born in Danville and grew up in Covington.

He attended Indiana University when offered the opportunity to appear on PBS' "The Friday Zone," which he left in 2003 to strike out on his own.

He has traveled the country promoting his "you can't be a rock star if you can't read," said Angie Lazzell, development specialist with the local Provena foundation. "I wondered how he could appeal preschoolers through fourth-graders and then I saw him in concert and he did it. He really engaged them all. He had everyone jumping up and down and participating."

The singer, songwriter, educator was a grand prize level winner in the John Lennon Song Writing Contest for "Shakin' in Chicago" and was given recognition by receiving a James Patterson Page Turner Award for getting children excited about books involved in reading.

Special events tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Oct. 9 at the arena box office. Tickets are also available online at www.provena.org/usmc/trees or by phone by calling 877-772-5425.

Advance tickets are required for all special events, which include:

– 8:30 or 10 a.m. Nov. 14: Teddy Bear Breakfast. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Festival Mascots plus special entertainment and a tour of the festival highlight this event. Children receive a goody bag of prizes including a new book. Photo opportunities are available with the characters. Seating is limited. Tickets are $7.50 per person.

– 6 p.m. Nov. 14 and 5 p.m. Nov. 15: The Polar Express. Wear your pajamas and join the magical journey made famous in author Chris Van Allsburg's book. Conductors escort families to the Polar Express buses, after a pajama contest at center court in the Village Mall, chefs serve hot chocolate and candies and lead Christmas carols on a trip to the arena were a special reading of "The Polar Express" takes place along with musical entertainment and a surprise from Santa Claus.

The Express leaves the village Mall Garfield's entrance at 6:15 p.m. Saturday and 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Return from Saturday's adventure is by 8:30 p.m. and by 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 per person.

– 11:45 a.m. Nov. 15: Ronald & A Rock Star. A new event that combines food from McDonald's with a rock concert just for kids. Added to Ronald's magic show is a show by Thaddeus Rex and his 10-foot-tall dinosaur friend, Rock.

The show brings together his passion for music, reading, writing and performing to encourage children to read with their families. Participants receive a Happy Meal and a Thaddeus Rex CD. Bring your camera. Tickets are $12 per person.

– 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16: Holiday Ladies Luncheon. An elegant luncheon featuring entertainment and a special gift for participants. Food is prepared by Applewood Foods. Seating is limited. Tickets are $26 per person.

– 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16: Cheers to You. Learn about the history of beer, the differences between ales and lagers, regular beers versus light beers and the ingredients used to make beers.

Discover tips on serving and drinking beer while sampling a variety of domestic and imported beers from Anheuser-Busch. Must be 21 to participate. Tickets are $30 per person.

– 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17: Festival Wine Tasting. A variety of wines are available to sample along with music and gourmet hors d' oeuvres. Must be 21 to participate. Tickets are $30 per person.

For more information on the festival, call Lazzell at 442-6583.

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