Trees of Christmas- Meadville Garden Club

Goal: $10,000.00

Specific Need

The goal of Trees of Christmas – Meadville Garden Club is to raise $10,000 to support the operational costs of presenting this spectacular community event in November 2026.

Your generosity helps bring the experience to life—covering the cost of live trees, the commemorative ornament, interior and exterior decorations, Boutique expenses, and event publicity. Every contribution plays a vital role in creating the magic that so many in our community look forward to each holiday season.

Mission

Katherine Reynolds, a founding member of the Meadville Garden Club more than 100 years ago, would surely be delighted to see her former home—now the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum—come alive every two years as the Club presents its beloved Trees of Christmas.

In 1924, Reynolds and 12 other civic-minded women established the Meadville Garden Club. Their first event—a tea and flower show held in her remarkable home—reflected their mission: to study gardening and related subjects while inspiring community interest in beautification and civic improvement.

For decades, these dedicated women hosted flower shows to fund community projects, including landscaping the local library and enhancing public spaces with trees and shrubs. During World War II, they even planted Victory Gardens, demonstrating their commitment to both beauty and service.

By the 1960s, attention turned to preserving the Baldwin-Reynolds House itself. After winning top honors in a statewide civic beautification contest sponsored by Sears, Roebuck & Co., the home gained recognition and, in 1965, was officially established as a historical museum.

In 1975, faced with the financial demands of maintaining the property, the Club introduced the first Trees of Christmas—a three-day fundraising event that quickly became a treasured tradition. With permission to use the name from Cheekwood in Nashville, the event’s success led to its continuation, first annually and then biennially, supporting the preservation of the home and its grounds for generations to come.

Most recently, the 2024 event celebrated the Club’s 100th anniversary with the theme Christmas Through the Years, welcoming more than 5,700 visitors and providing memorable experiences for local students through school field trips.

This year’s Trees of Christmas will take place November 20–22 and November 27–29, featuring the enchanting theme Classic Christmas Movies. The historic museum will once again be transformed—this time into a magical journey through the beloved films that have defined the holiday season for generations.

Your support helps bring this extraordinary experience to life—preserving history, inspiring community connection, and creating holiday magic for all who walk through these doors.