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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Christmas Tree Elegance returns for 37th year, continues downtown through Dec. 15

One of the many Christmas tree displays raffled off at Christmas Tree Elegance in 2018 was “Marti’s Favorite Things” in memory of the late Dishman Dodge general manager Marti Hollenback. The annual raffle, at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square again this year through Dec. 15, benefits the Spokane Symphony. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
One of the many Christmas tree displays raffled off at Christmas Tree Elegance in 2018 was “Marti’s Favorite Things” in memory of the late Dishman Dodge general manager Marti Hollenback. The annual raffle, at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square again this year through Dec. 15, benefits the Spokane Symphony. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Don Chareunsy donc@spokesman.com(509) 459-5446

While people aplenty were glued to their iPhones and laptops and/or recovering from Thanksgiving weekend on Cyber Monday, the volunteers of Christmas Tree Elegance were busy installing 18 trees to begin another successful year of fundraising.

After record-breaking sales in 2018, Christmas Tree Elegance will be unveiled this morning at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square, with a fundraising raffle of 18 custom-decorated trees – with prizes that include gift certificates, items, cash and a Father Christmas sculpture – from today through Dec. 15.

The opportunity to win one of the coveted trees and its themed gifts has been a holiday tradition in Spokane for 36 years. Thousands from across the Inland Northwest view the trees and buy $1 raffle tickets, which go on sale at 10 a.m. today, for a chance to win the trees with gifts valued at as much as $4,999.

The 430,000 tickets sold last year was up from 355,000 in 2017 for the benefit produced by Spokane Symphony Associates, a 300-member organization of volunteers who raise funds to support the Spokane Symphony.

Twelve trees and an Old World Father Christmas sculpture by Elizabeth Raol will grace the Historic Davenport’s mezzanine. Sales for the Davenport trees and Father Christmas end at 9 p.m. Dec. 14, with the drawing to follow. Six trees will line the second-floor corridor at River Park Square. Sales for those trees end at 4 p.m. Dec. 15, with the drawing to follow, as well.

Prizes this year include a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a trip to Canada and other travel items, children’s items and cash trees at the Davenport and River Park Square. Luncheons are planned in the Grand Pennington Ballroom for Dec. 10 and 11 with new music director James Lowe and Spokane Symphony members.