Paulding County History Museum beginning to ‘Sparkle & Shine’
Paulding County History Museum’s largest fundraiser of the year, The Festival of Trees, is just around the corner! Since September 30, when the FFA students from Staci Miller’s class brought nearly 80 Christmas trees in from the shed, we have been planning, organizing, and getting ready for the Festival. The theme for this year’s festivities is “Sparkle & Shine.”
Elizabeth Miller will again be the Festival chairman. Garland has been hung, trees have been decorated by our dedicated volunteers as well as by organizations, groups and clubs from around the county. We have planned menus, musical entertainment and even a few surprises for our Festival-goers!
A new feature this year will be Columbia Rose, a young guitarist and singer from Payne. She will perform on opening night of the Festival, Friday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. following the spaghetti dinner, which will be prepared by the Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce. The museum will be open on Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 15 is Kids’ Day! Museum will be open 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Santa will visit from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon and Chris Bercaw will be making balloon animals for the kids throughout the afternoon. A lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and will be hot dogs, burgers, and mac-n-cheese. The meal will be prepared by the museum volunteers. Supper that evening, served from 5:00-7:00 p.m., will be a Baked Potato Bar. Museum volunteers will also prepare that meal.
Sunday, November 16 the museum will be open from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., with brunch served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. At 2:00 p.m., a new group to the museum will provide the entertainment. Second Street Strings, a dulcimer group from Defiance, will perform.
Monday, November 17, hours will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. A Turkey Tetrazzini casserole dinner will be served from 5:00-7:00 p.m., prepared by the First Presbyterian Church Women.
Tuesday, November 18 is Senior Day. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Lunch will be served to senior citizens from local nursing homes, BY INVITATION ONLY. Ellie Krynock will provide piano music during the luncheon. At 4:00 p.m., the Paulding High School Jazz Band will provide the entertainment. And from 5-7, a Baked Pasta dinner will be prepared and served by the Friends of the Paulding Parks.
Wednesday, November 19 hours are 4:00-8:00 p.m. The Paulding County Senior Center will be serving a Baked Ziti dinner from 5:00-7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., the St. Paul Lutheran Bell Choir will perform.
Thursday, November 20 we will again be open from 4:00-8:00 p.m. with a Soup and Chili supper, prepared and served by the museum volunteers from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Live music will include the Wayne Trace High School Band and Choir from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and the Antwerp Community Band from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Friday, November 21, hours are 4:00-8:00 p.m. The Hot Chocolate Bar will be open the entire evening and Jane’s Heavenly Dessert Bar will serve yummy desserts of all kinds from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A Christmas Carol Sing-Along begins at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 22 is the last day of the 2025 Festival of Trees. Doors will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and will, for the first time, be participating in the “Shop the Village” event, sponsored by the Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce. The Hot Chocolate Bar will again be open from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Walking Tacos will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for lunch, prepared by the museum volunteers.
The bidding on the Silent Auction will close at 2:00 p.m. on the 22nd, and the drawing for the OSU Raffle will also be held at 2:00 p.m.
Each day of the event, there will be a photo booth, Memory Tree, Mouse Hunt, Vote for Your Favorite Tree, OSU Raffle, and Silent Auction. You will also be able to shop for unique gifts at our Contry Store and to sign Christmas cards to be sent to US Service members. Make plans now to join in heralding in the holiday season at the 2025 Festival of Trees – starting November 14th!
