Ann's Place is bringing you an exciting and safe on-line Festival this year. You and your family can participate and enjoy creating some magic together, while supporting the lives of countless cancer patients. Whether you are entering 1, 2, or 3 of the creative challenges in our contest, or showing up to vote for your favorites to win by donating to Ann's Place, check back often to spread holiday excitement, and encourage competition and caring.


Cancer doesn't stop during pandemics, but Covid-19 restrictions and risks add an incredible layer of extra stress just getting to treatment and through recovery. Ann's Place has continued to be a beacon of hope through it all with indispensable professional counseling, online wellness classes, and support groups. Our gardens and labyrinth offer a respite during the roughest, most isolating times. Ann's Place still needs your participation and support even more since in-person events are not possible.

1. It is still about those trees! Decorated Tree or Holiday Item
   You can decorate your amazing trees this year, but no moving required! Share your creativity with an even larger audience who can view it on social media, from your aunt in Boston to your grandparents in Florida. Trees can be any size, theme, or color, artificial or live. Go to Festival Tree Tips  for decorating and photography tips to show it off to best advantage. Photograph it before registering your entry.  If your talent runs more to creating wreaths or other holiday items, this is still your category. Your holiday item can be fully or partially self-fabricated. Theme, materials, composition, and scale are at your discretion. No downloads of pirated trees! Some entrants are raffling or selling their trees privately to donate proceeds to this Festival. $25 entry fee please, with chance of winning from $250 up to $2,000 for attracting the most votes!
   Winner of $2,000 cash: South Britain Congregational Church, "Rainbow Tree"    $1,000 cash, 1st Runner-up: Michelle Marmo & Kelli Rueger, "Our Special Angel"    $500 cash, 2nd Runner-up: Compitello Family, "Under the C"    $250 cash, 3rd Runner-up:   Norma Schlager "Santa, Baby"
2. Fun for the family! Think Outside the Box: Upcycle Sculpture Challenge
   Take a break from remote work and studies in your house and put your heads together to create a holiday sculpture using the BOX as a foundation. Pick a theme and imagination is your only limit! Save those delivery boxes and metal tins. Work with cardboard, paper, plastic, or metal. If you can recycle it, you can use it. Then the fun really starts!
   
   Register your masterpiece based on its size as follows:
   
   
   • Mini-Sculptures (Up to 12" in height, one or more pieces)  Winner: Lydia, Alys & Sonya, "Zooming into Christmas"
   • Medium (1 to 5 boxes)     Winner: Lori & Kendra Zezza,  "2020 We just Rolled with It."
   • Unlimited Sculpture (more than 5 boxes) Winner: Girl Scout Troop 40324 Housatonic Trails Service, "The Giving Tree -Sweet Way to Say Thanks"
     
     
   For inspiration and instructions, go to  Getting Started with your entry  $25 entry fee. Groups also welcome. $250 Gift Card to top winner in each size category. (One prize only per size, to be shared per family, group, or individual winner)
3. Awkward Holiday Photo Competition
   Winner: Brookfield HS National Honor Society, "Holiday Sweater Photo"    Runner-Up: The Cobb Family (winnings donated back)
   Bring a measure of silliness and photographic skills to this one! Whether it is a Holiday Feast gone wacky, a gathering of the Ugly Sweaters, strange Porch Sitters, or Pets in Costume, jump into this light-hearted competition. No indecent or political photos accepted and always get permission of humans being photographed. $25 entry fee. Top vote getter wins $250. Runner-up: $50.

Special Award: 2020 Best in Show, Judges' Choice Holiday Tree/Holiday Item  
Apart from the fundraising competition, a custom 2020 Best in Show ornament and a cash prize of $150 will be awarded to the Tree/Holiday Item entry that is selected as Best in Show based on design, theme, and decorating skill. Three of our top Festival sponsors will comprise the judges' panel. Selection of this tree will not eliminate it from the voting competition. The Winner of this Judges' Choice Award will be announced during the Finale broadcast. Post-note: Thanks to Judges Lauren Young of Mohegan Sun, Warren Levy of Danbury Metal Finishing, and Jonathon Gibney of Southridge Technology. Winner: The Danbury Garden Club with "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."