The 1998 Fantasy of Trees and Lights, an annual Ames area charitable event, will be held Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center.

“It is sponsored by the Mary Greeley [Medical Center] Auxiliary and the [Mary Greeley Medical Center] foundation,” said Tanya Anderson, member of the auxiliary and assistant trust officer at First National Bank. “All of the proceeds will go towards the Israel Family Hospice House.”

The Israel Family Hospice House, which will accept its first patients by January 1999, will provide care for terminally ill patients and their families, according to a press release.

“This is a fund-raising event that will provide on-going support for the hospice house,” Anderson said.

This year’s Fantasy of Trees and Lights will feature holiday trees decorated by various groups and organizations in Ames, and wreaths will be raffled off at the end of the event in a silent auction.

Tree viewing, an Avenue of Wreaths, a miniature forest, Santa’s Workshop, Rudolph’s Boutique and a “Bear-to-Care” tree will be included in the activities.

“The Bear-to-Care tree is to create awareness in the community and with children,” Anderson said. “We want to raise awareness that some children are not as fortunate.”

She said the Bear-to-Care tree will be used to collect cash donations and teddy bears to adorn a 14-foot tree. The teddy bears will be given to children while in the hospital.

“We encourage people to bring in the teddy bears to a number of drop-off points,” Anderson said. “The teddy bears will be distributed to the pediatric floor of the hospital, the emergency room, special agencies within Story County as well as to the hospice house.”

The drop-off boxes will be located in the Mary Greeley Medical Center main lobby, the Ames City Clerk’s office, Ames elementary schools, First National Bank and the North Grand Mall management office.

Anderson said the tree viewing lasts through the day, but the festival continues through the night.

“A Gala dinner on Friday night and a children’s carnival on Saturday night are also included [in the activities],” she said. Both events require reservations, which can be made by calling 239-2210.

The Gala, which costs $60 per person, is a night of dining and dancing from 6:30 p.m. until midnight. A midwest band, The Rumbles will provide musical entertainment.

On Saturday, the Holiday Carnival, which costs $6.50 for ages 2 and up, will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. and will include a multitude of activities for children of all ages, according to a press release.

Admission to the general event is $4 for adults, $2 for children 2-12 and free for children under 2.