Despite weather, Christmas Tree Elegance 2022 sales are second highest in history!
Spokane – The 40th Annual Christmas Tree Elegance in 2022 sold a second highest total of $409,323 despite a major snowstorm on the second day of the 13-day event. The previous high was in 2019 when the sales totaled $436,707.
“Had it not been for the weather I am sure the total for 2022 would have surpassed the total for 2019. All in all it was the second highest total! Still a good total considering the weather,” said Christmas Tree Elegance Treasurer Betsy Johnson in a note to the volunteers who made the event successful.
She gave a special thanks to all the cashiers, volunteers and tree teams who worked many hours, some 12 hours per shift during the event.
This year 15 fabulously decorated trees and gifts, eight on the mezzanine of the Historic Davenport and seven on the second floor of River Park Square, were available to the thousands who viewed the trees and bought tickets for the 40th annual raffle between Nov. 29 and Dec. 11, 2022.
Elizabeth Raol, who has been event chair or co-chair for the past six years, is stepping down this year. Next year’s event chairs will be Lori LaFrance who was the 2022 co-chair and Karen Colkitt. Elizabeth has been a part of the Christmas Tree Elegance planning committee for the past 22 years. She has created the Old World Father Christmas sculpture for the raffle for 14 years. She has also been on a tree team creating beautiful trees with gifts for 14 years. She will continue to work on Christmas Tree Elegance in various ways.
Christmas Tree Elegance is a raffle produced by the Spokane Symphony Associates, a non-profit volunteer organization, whose mission is to raise funds to support the Spokane Symphony. The $1 raffle tickets offer a chance to win a theme-decorated tree and prizes which include gift certificates, items and cash valued up to $4,999 or a Father Christmas sculpture.