By Discover Northwest Nebraska
CHADRON, Neb. – The Chadron Public Library’s creative Out of the Book tree was chosen as the People’s Choice Award winner at this year’s Festival of Trees. The organization will possess the traveling trophy that goes along with the honor for the next year.
The tree was made out of pages of books, edged in glitter, and topped with a star.
“Author Jean Rhys said, ‘Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.’ Books transport us to new worlds, introduce us to friends we never knew and connect us through time,” said the library in its description for the event.
The Chadron Public Library, built in 1912, is one of the 2,509 Carnegie Libraries worldwide built with funds donated by famed philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The library is designed in the Classical Revival style.
Keep Chadron Beautiful and Northwest Community Action Partnership Head Start were the second and third-place vote-getters.
This year’s Festival of Trees included more than 30 entries. The event takes place at the Dawes County Courthouse each year, and businesses, organizations, families and individuals are invited to participate by bringing and decorating a tree for the holiday season.
“The Festival of Trees was started more than a decade ago,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “The trees were creative and unique, reflecting the spirit of the Open Frontier Creative District, of which the historical Dawes County Courthouse is part. I hope to see the Festival of Trees continue to grow as our Country Christmas committee continues to expand on the holiday celebration.”