Once the final ornament was placed among the 10 Christmas trees at the Poplar Bluff Museum, Lake Road Elementary was voted as the People's Choice winner for its "What kid doesn't want a puppy for Christmas" themed tree.
"As always, the creativity of the trees was just amazing," Kati Ray with the Poplar Bluff Museum said. "The educators really bring their 'A game' to the event. It was obvious that the students were heavily involved with creating the trees and the ornaments."
Voting for the People's Choice Christmas Tree took place during the museum's open house Sunday by community members in attendance.
Ray said the event was very well attended and is always amazed at the crowd for the Christmas Tree Forest.
She also added voting for the People's Choice Christmas tree was very competitive this year.
"It was the closest voting I have ever seen," she said. "We had three trees that were within five votes of winning the People's Choice Award."
Other winners included:
* Best Tree Topper for Elementary: Fisk Elementary, "Just Chillin' at Christmas."
* Best Tree Topper for Secondary: Poplar Bluff High School, "Christmas at the Arctic."
* Best Ornaments: tie between Lake Road Elementary, "What kid doesn't want a puppy for Christmas" and Sacred Heart Catholic School, "All Creatures on Earth Adore Him."
* Best Under-the-Tree Display: tie between Kindergarten Center, "Christmas Woodland Creatures" and Oak Grove Elementary "Peace on Earth."
"The museum really wants to thank the educators for bringing the museum to life this Christmas," Ray said. "It always makes me smile to see the students showing their ornament to their family."
The Poplar Bluff Museum will be open for the public to view the Christmas trees on Sundays, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. as well as special Saturday hours on Dec. 23 and 30 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The museum is located at 1010 N. Main Street and admission is free.
"The Christmas Tree Forest is a great way to invite the public to the museum," Ray said. "The museum is sort of a hidden treasure of Poplar Bluff."