Volunteers go out of their way to make this Christmas event ‘tree-mendous’

Volunteers have spent a combined 1,200 hours transforming the Jasper County Historical Museum into a winter wonderland better known as the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience, which is entering its fourth year after a very successful season in 2023 that managed to draw 1,300 visitors.

Barb Carroll, treasurer of the museum’s board of directors, said every year the organizers and decorating teams work tirelessly to not only make every event bigger and better, they go out of their way to ensure no trees are the same, no decorations the same. They want each visit to feel like a new experience.

“We always knew we wanted to make it different every year,” she said. “Last year I thought to myself, ‘How are we ever going to top this?’ Now this year is even prettier than it was last year and last year was terrific for us! We’ve got such a great volunteer group that come in from all over the county to help.”

Newton News previously reported that visitors from the 2023 event came from 59 towns, 24 counties and 16 states. The museum was awarded another Hotel-Motel Tourism Grant from the city this year to help the event bring people to town. Carroll said organizers have extended their reach with more advertising this year.

Especially in areas outside of Jasper County. Carroll is looking forward to the excitement it brings to families who tour through the museum and see the more than 200 decorated trees on display with the museum exhibits. All the old school decorations and the festive colors create a uniquely fun atmosphere.

“Forget about all the stuff going on out in the world and come in here and walk through the wonderland,” Carroll said to Newton News. “It’s absolutely gorgeous and puts you in the spirit and gives you a peaceful heart when you see all these wonderful trees and all these beautiful decorations.”

The Tree-mendous Christmas Experience is the brainchild of Dave Rorabaugh, chair of the museum’s Christmas committee. Rorabaugh has bemoaned past comments saying the event is the same every year. Bah humbug! Visitors have to look no further than their first steps into the museum to know that is wrong.

“The Newton Arboretum’s display is outstanding,” he said. “It’s one of the first things you’ll see when you walk in. I think it’s a home run and we really appreciate the time and effort they’ve put in because it is not only a build that took several days, it took all summer to dry out the plants.”

Every year the museum tries to reserve trees to acknowledge military service members, local churches and even departed loved ones. Rorabaugh said volunteers truly make an effort to have trees and displays that respond well to anybody who walks through the museum.

“I think we’ve done an excellent job this year,” he said. “Every year we think it’s the best. Well, I still think this one is by far the best.”

The event also stands out for being open on Christmas Day, giving families a chance to get out of the house and enjoy a family-friendly outing.

“We’ve had really ‘tree-mendous’ success on Christmas Day,” Rorabaugh said. “The volunteers we have to make this happen is unbelievable. One of the most impressive things to me is how the community comes out, supports us and puts the hours in to make this what it is.”

Diane Dafflitto, secretary of the museum’s board of directors, has spent a great deal of time decorating the place. She said her preparation for the big event started as early as February this year when she started creating homemade decorations for trees and other displays.

However, the actual decorating in the museum didn’t start until September. Dafflitto said volunteers rotate every year, so the people who decorated a room last year have moved on to a different room. Again, she said this is to help make it so the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience never gets old or samey.

“The same people don’t do the same area year after year after year,” Dafflitto said. “We rotate everything.”

Jasper County Historical Museum’s Tree-mendous Christmas Experience kicks off 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1700 S. 15th Ave. W. in Newton. The event is open 1-8 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays until Dec. 29, and it will be open 1-4 p.m. on Christmas Day.