Gather. Celebrate. Give Back.
Whether decorating a tree is your family’s treasured tradition, a team-building opportunity for your coworkers, or a meaningful way for you to invest in your community, Festival of Trees has a display for everyone.
This holiday season, are you looking to:
Create a memorable holiday tradition with your family?
Enjoy a fun and festive team-building experience with coworkers?
Support a local cause in a visible and impactful way?
Enjoy a little friendly competition and earn year-long bragging rights?
Then you're ready to become a Festival of Trees decorator!
Getting involved is easy: we provide the tree, and you provide the creativity.
Transform your tree into a one-of-a-kind holiday masterpiece while helping support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at The Arc Tampa Bay. Whether you’re decorating as a family, a business, a community group, or an individual, your participation helps make Festival of Trees a treasured community tradition year after year.
As a thank-you for your participation, decorators receive complimentary General Admission tickets and admission to Just Desserts, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the magic of Festival of Trees and celebrate the impact of your creativity.
Ready to Decorate?
Festival of Trees decorators receive a green, pre-lit tree and stand and transform it into a one-of-a-kind holiday creation. Choose from three tree sizes:
3-Foot Tree
A smaller tree that you can pick up in advance, decorate off-site and return completed.
4.5-Foot Tree
A mid-sized option that you can pick up in advance, decorate off-site and return completed.
7.5-Foot Tree
Go big! These trees are decorated on-site at the Long Center during designated decorating times.
Claim Your Tree Before They’re Gone!
Whether you’re decorating with family, friends, coworkers or your community organization, this is your chance to create something memorable, compete for Festival of Trees bragging rights and support a meaningful cause at the same time.
Tree quantities are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your tree today and start dreaming up your holiday masterpiece!
Here’s Everything You Need to Know:
Bring Your Best. The Competition Is ON!
Ready to put your decorating skills to the test? Festival of Trees is a friendly competition, with awards recognizing some of the most creative and memorable trees of the year.
NEW for 2026, decorators can draw inspiration from the following categories:
All About That Base
Focus on the foundation! Make an impact with an eye-catching, creative, or unconventional tree skirt, base structure, or stand feature.
Coastal Creations
Sun, sand, and holiday cheer! Think sea glass, nautical accents, soft blues, shells, and a breezy Florida twist on festive decor.
Enchanted Elegance
Sophisticated, timeless, and refined. Bring on rich textures, shimmering metallics, warm lighting, and elevated, high-end holiday style.
Hollywood Holidays
Lights, camera, glamour! From silver screen classics to iconic pop culture hits, bring your tree to life with movie-inspired elements, gold carpet glitz, TV favorites, and star-studded flair.
Night of Nostalgia
A cozy trip down memory lane. Embrace vintage ornaments, classic red-and-green palettes, retro holiday touches, and timeless traditions.
Over the Top
Take your tree to new heights! Feature a dramatic, scale-defying topper that commands attention from across the room.
People’s Choice
The ultimate fan favorite! Create a standout, memorable design that captures hearts and takes home the top vote from our attendees.
Whimsical Wonder
Playful, bold, and full of imagination! Think fun candy-cane stripes, bright colors, quirky ornaments, and a touch of holiday magic.
Winter Enchantment
A classic frosted wonderland. Focus on snowy whites, cool silvers, icy blues, and sparkling woodland or frosted accents.
Wild Card
Didn’t find a category that fits your vision? No problem—this one’s for you. Reserved for everything unique, unexpected, and uncategorized.
Independent volunteers and community leaders will select one winner in each judging theme, with winners recognized at Just Desserts on Saturday, November 21.
So gather your team, dream up your theme and get ready for some friendly competition!
We want every tree to look spectacular while remaining safe and easy to transport. Before you start planning your masterpiece, keep these important guidelines in mind:
- Decorate all the way around. Trees should look great from every angle.
- Keep decorations within one foot of the tree’s original circumference and height.
- Secure everything tightly using wire, fishing line, string, zip ties, pipe cleaners or similar materials. Hot glue is not an acceptable method. Trees with unsecured ornaments cannot be accepted.
- You must provide a tree skirt or other covering for the base of your tree.
- Bring a 6-foot, multi-outlet extension cord with surge protection. One electrical outlet will be available for each tree.
- Do not use food, candy or live materials.
- Do not alter the structural integrity of the tree.
- Do not attach items with monetary value (such as gift cards, cash, or vouchers) directly to the tree to avoid risk of theft. Instead, include a photograph or printed representation on the tree and deliver the physical item directly to Foundation staff.
- Keep your tree family-friendly, festive and appropriate for the spirit and mission of Festival of Trees.
Design With the Buyer in Mind
Festival of Trees creations are displayed for thousands of visitors and made available for families to bring home and enjoy. Broadly appealing holiday designs tend to resonate best with buyers, so decorators are encouraged to create festive, family-friendly trees rather than highly specific, occupational or industry-focused themes.
October 5–9: Tree Pickup
9:30am–4:30pm
Decorators with 3-foot and 4.5-foot trees can pick up their pre-lit tree and stand from The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation office at the Long Center, 2nd Floor, Suite 244.
November 16–17: Tree Drop-Off
Monday, November 16: 11am–5pm
Tuesday, November 17: 9:30am–5pm
Completed 3-foot and 4.5-foot trees should be delivered to the Long Center gymnasium.
November 16–17: On-Site Decorating
Monday, November 16: 11am–5pm
Tuesday, November 17: 9:30am–5pm
Decorators with 7.5-foot trees will decorate their trees on-site in the Long Center gymnasium.
November 21: Just Desserts + Award Recognition
Saturday, November 21: 5pm–6pm
Join us as we celebrate our decorators, recognize this year’s award winners and enjoy sweet treats, raffles and a few surprises!
A Little Something for You, Too!
As a thank-you for sharing your time and creativity, decorators receive complimentary admission to Festival of Trees and Just Desserts based on the size of their tree:
| Tree Size | Complimentary Tickets |
|---|---|
| 3-Foot Tree | 2 |
| 4.5-Foot Tree | 4 |
| 7.5-Foot Tree | 6 |
Tickets to Just Desserts will be provided when you check in to deliver or decorate your tree.
Once the decorating is complete, it’s time to enjoy the magic!
Premiere Night
Friday, November 20 | 6pm–9pm
Separate ticket required.
Festival of Trees
Saturday, November 21 | 10am–6pm
Sunday, November 22 | 10am–5pm
Just Desserts + Award Recognition
Saturday, November 21 | 5pm-6pm
All decorated trees will remain on display through Sunday, November 22.