Baker City Downtown’s 2026 Festival of Trees Community Grant applications are open
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from Baker City Downtown) Baker City Downtown is pleased to announce the Festival of Trees Community Grant applications are now open! Applications can be found on our website at www.bakercitydowntown.com/festival-of-trees. Past grant awardees include, but not limited to:
● Baker Safe Communities Coalition
● Baker Relief Nursery
● CASA of Eastern Oregon
● Lions Club – Splash Pad
● Powder River Music Revue
● Baker City Veterans of Foreign Wars
Baker City Downtown is a local, 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to preserve and enhance the vitality and character of our community – Festival of Trees is just one way in which BCD fulfills its mission to our community.
Under the last three years of BCD’s stewardship, Festival of Trees has been restored and reinvigorated to its full, multi-day event to bring the community together in celebration while also raising funds to support projects from multiple local organizations. Since 2023, we have raised over $100,000 to support 43 projects to benefit our community. Funds raised are awarded through a grant application process, organized by Baker City Downtown’s FOT Grant Committee. Applications will be accepted until September 1, 2026. The FOT Grants Committee will announce their initial awards in October. They will meet again once the event has concluded to approve the final grant awards.
The Festival of Trees celebration will kick off on Thursday, December 3rd with Preview Night featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres, exclusive access to select silent auction items, and the first look at all the trees. On Friday, December 4th, the Gala will feature a delicious buffet dinner with exciting live and silent auctions, fun games, and a festive night of raising funds for community projects. The festival will continue on Saturday, December 5th with Family Fun Day – a public viewing of the beautifully decorated trees, continued silent auction, entertainment provided by grant recipients, make-and-take activities organized by Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, and sale of Cookie Crawl boxes. Auction trees will be delivered on Sunday, December 6th.
With your support, Baker City Downtown hosts an event that raises funds to be distributed amongst multiple local groups, benefiting our community as a whole.
Thank you all for your support!
Ariel M. Reker
director@bakercitydowntown.com
(541) 283 – 6963
Bakercitydowntown.com
