This Friday, November 13, is the deadline for applications to be accepted to participate in this year’s Festival of Trees, a fundraiser and decoration contest held in conjunction with the Main Street Christmas parade.

Agencies, businesses and individuals are invited to decorate and donate an artificial tree, and select a benefiting nonprofit group. The trees will be auctioned on Main Street Texarkana’s Facebook page, with all proceeds going to the designated nonprofit. The trees will also be entered into a Facebook contest for the best decoration, with the most popular tree receiving a trophy from Main Street Texarkana.

There is no fee to enter the contest; the only expense is the tree and decorations.

If anyone has a gently-used artificial tree they would like to donate to the cause please contact the Texarkana, Ark., Recycling Center at 870-779-4946. All donations of trees, lights and decorations are tax deductible.

Applications are available at www.arkansas.txkusa.org, and are due Friday. Trees must be in place and decorated by November 20.

The online auction will close at 5PM Saturday, November 28, correlating with Small Business Saturday.

Trees won in the auction may be picked up on Tuesday, December 8, at times to be announced. Checks are the only accepted payment and should be made out directly to the benefiting nonprofit.

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