1of21Stephanie Markowich and Kelly Sohigian, both of Fairfield, decorated the Gentleman's Library Room at the Burr Homestead, one of the many rooms decorated for the 30th annual Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less2of21Fairfielders Susan Burns and Linda Lanzo look at ornaments hanging on a Christmas tree in the Holiday Boutique room at the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival on Thursday night.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
3of214of21Connie Tunley of Greenwich and Patty Hesse, of Fairfield look at glass sea-themed ornaments at the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival in the Burr Homestead.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less5of21Fairfielders Jenn Dooher, Pam Paulmann and Barb Fallon admire angel tree toppers in the Angels Among Us room at the Burr Homestead during Thursday's preview of the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
6of217of21Brooke Bento of Fairfield admires a tabletop tree in the main foyer at the Burr Homestead for the 30th Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less8of21Fairfielders Daneen Grabe, Kristin Nick (a past president of the Christmas Tree Festival board) and Donna Craft, a current festival board member, at Thursday's preview party in the Burr Homestead.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
9of2110of21Closeup of ornaments sparkling on one of the trees in the main foyer of the Burr Homestead for the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less11of21Kim Cortellessa and Morgan Wyckoff, both of Fairfield, sell ornaments to raise funds for St. Vincent's Special Needs Center, the beneficiary of proceeds from this year's Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
12of2113of21Sue Pinzon and Victoria Ross designed the floral and wreath items positioned around them in the French Flower Shop-themed room at the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less14of21Donna Bonafide and Kim Smith decorated the Reflections room on the second floor of the Burr Homestead for the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
15of2116of21David and Michele Ross, of Fairfield, pose in the Sitting Room-themed space at the opening night of the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less17of21Fairfielder Kerri Cagnassola checks out a small tree in the Sanctuary room at the Burr Homestead.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
18of2119of21For the Fairfield Beach neighborhood resident who has everything, these driftwood Christmas trees make great holiday decor, as seen at the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less20of21Victoria Panico, of Fairfield, is amused by one of Santa's moose on display in front of Moose Mountain, one of the man decorations on display at the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival in the Burr Homestead.Mike LauterbornShow MoreShow Less
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The elves were hard at work all year, and made a final push this week, transforming the Burr Homestead from a historic landmark into a dazzling holiday wonderland for the 30th year of the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.
The Fairfield holiday tradition, which opened with a Thursday night preview party, continues Friday through Sunday in the mansion, 739 Old Post Road.
The "elves" are, in reality, the designers who crafted the elaborate tree displays, ornaments, wreaths, tabletop items, garlands and more dazzling decor throughout the mansion, as well as more than 200 volunteers who helped decorate each of the themed rooms and coordinated the event.
On Thursday evening, several hundred party guests got a chance to inspect the fruits of all this labor, enjoying a fete complete with wine, hors d'ouevres and a silent auction.
Each year, the festival benefits a different local charity and, this year, proceeds go to St. Vincent's Special Needs Services in Trumbull, to help build a therapeutic pool serving children and adults with complex medical needs.
