Morven Museum & Garden’s Festival of Trees Tradition Continues Nov 18

“Morven’s annual Festival of Trees has been a holiday highlight for years, and this year – a year like no other – we’re enhancing it by opening the decorated galleries of the Museum a week earlier and running through January 10th to give everyone extra time to see it without encouraging crowds. The event chairs embraced the creativity demanded by the coronavirus and added a ‘Winter Wonderland’ twist to our annual fundraising party,” Executive Director Jill Barry shared recently.

“We’re inviting everyone to don their woollies and wellies (along with their mask!) and join us on December 3rd in the transformed backyard of the Museum from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. by the fire pits for holiday cheer with safe social distancing.”

Morven’s Festival of Trees is a juried collection of trees and mantles decorated by area garden clubs and non-profit partners displayed in the museum’s galleries throughout the mansion-turned-museum. Morven’s 2020 Festival of Trees co-chairs are Tim Andrews, Colleen Goggins, Elizabeth Haines, Rachel Herr, and Carolyn & John Healey.

During the December 3 fundraising party, the museum will be open to enjoy the decorated trees and mantels at timed intervals, however, the party is based outdoors, “in the fresh air under the stars, enjoying firelight, holiday treats, twinkle lights, music, and a few surprises,” Barry added. “We long to gather together, and on this evening we will be doing so while supporting Morven’s exhibitions and education programs. We hope many in our community, neighbors, and friends will consider becoming Early Supporters of this wonderful fundraising event at whatever level they can.” December 4th will be the bad-weather fallback date.

Key sponsorship levels range from “Shining Star” at $15,000 which includes 12 Holiday Party tickets and 12 Museum tickets, “Angel” at $10,000 including 10 Holiday Party tickets and 10 Museum tickets, “Herald” at $5,000 including six Holiday Party tickets and six Museum tickets, “Sentinel” at $2,500 which includes four Holiday Party tickets plus four Museum tickets. “Patron” and “Supporter” tickets are available at $500 and $250 per person, respectively and all these levels will be recognized on the invitation if committed by October 5th. The basic party tickets are $175 per person. For more information on becoming a Festival of Trees sponsor, contact Kathy Greenwood, Development, at 609-924-8144 x 113 or kgreenwood@morven.org

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Festival of Trees included with Museum admission of $10.00; $8.00 for Seniors; Free for Friends of Morven and Children 6 years old and under.

For additional information and associated Festival of Trees programming, both virtual and in-person, visit morven.org/ regularly throughout the coming months.

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ABOUT MORVEN MUSEUM & GARDEN

For nearly 300 years Morven has played a role in the history of New Jersey and the nation. Originally part of a 5,500-acre tract purchased from William Penn in 1701 by the Stockton family, it is the home of Richard Stockton, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and is the only home of a New Jersey signer which is highly interpreted and open regularly to the public. As well as serving as a Stockton homestead for several generations into the 20th century, and home to three generations of enslaved families, Morven was home to the families and household staff of Robert Wood Johnson Jr., and was the first New Jersey Governors’ Mansion and home to five New Jersey governors and their families and staffs.