Handcrafted ornaments featured in Christmas Tree Forest

A Poplar Bluff holiday tradition dating back at least two decades will continue this year when the Poplar Bluff Museum hosts its annual Christmas Tree Forest decorating contest and open house this weekend.

The contest, according to museum board secretary Kati Ray, is a “community outreach project for the museum.

“It’s really a great project for the kids to get involved with the museum and gives them an opportunity to come to the museum and see their ornaments and learn a little bit about Poplar Bluff history.”

Decorating will take place from 3:30-5:30 p.m. every afternoon this week, said museum board president Jay Githens.

The theme of this year’s contest, Ray said, is “Holiday Jumble,” and “one of the requirements is the ornaments be handcrafted by the students.”

Several local schools are scheduled to participate this year, Ray said, though the numbers are down slightly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools expected to decorate trees include the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center, Poplar Bluff High School, Poplar Bluff Junior High School, Poplar Bluff Middle School, O’Neal Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary and Westwood Baptist Academy.

An open house, open to anyone and free of charge, will be held Sunday, Ray said.

The open house will take place from 1-5 p.m. in the museum, located at 1010 N. Main St., and pre-packaged refreshments will be served to those in attendance.

As in years past, in-person visitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite decorated tree for the People’s Choice Award, but this year’s contest will feature a different twist.

“Voting for the very competitive People’s Choice Award will also be allowed on the Poplar Bluff Museum’s Facebook page this year for those who are uncomfortable coming to the museum,” said Ray. “Tree photos will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page Saturday morning and the likes will be combined with the in-person voting” to determine a winner.

Judges for the contest’s other categories, such as Best Tree Topper and Best Ornaments, are independent with no relation to the museum board, Ray said.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will end at 4:45 p.m., Ray said.

“That gives us a few minutes to tally the votes,” she said.

The winner of the People’s Choice Award and the awards for each category, Ray said, will be announced on Facebook Live and in person at 5 p.m.

Sponsors of the contest and open house, Ray said, include Larry Hillis Dodge, Lankford Electric, David and Cindy Johnson, Key Drugs, The Medicine Shoppe, Pizza Inn, 4N Motorsports and State Farm-Eddy Justice.