The community is invited to the Festival of Trees, Georgia Southern University's new holiday celebration that begins Monday. A week-long wonderland of decorated trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses is put on by the Continuing Education Center in the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building.
     Decorated by local artists, merchants and community members, the wreaths and seven-foot-tall artificial trees can be viewed from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Friday, Nov. 21. Trees and wreaths will be raffled on Saturday, Nov. 22, as a benefit for Christmas in the Boro and Bulloch, a joint effort by the Statesboro Police Department, Bulloch County Sheriff's Department, Wal-Mart and Toys for Tots to give toys as Christmas gifts to less-fortunate children. Raffle tickets will be available all week through 6 p.m. Saturday for $1 each or 12 for $10.
     On Saturday, the festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., including the raffle drawing at 7 p.m.  Highlights include live music performed throughout the day, a visit from Santa, puppet shows, and free cookies and hot chocolate. Staff members of the Statesboro Regional Library will read Christmas stories for children.
     For more information or directions, call (912) 478-5551 or visit
http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted