
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994                   TAG: 9412120034
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CLAUDINE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TREES HERE; CROWDS LOST

After 12 years of getting bumped from location to location in Roanoke, the annual Festival of Trees finally has a permanent home in the Jefferson Center.

But this year's relatively thin crowds have some organizers worried. They want to make sure people know where to find the festival, which is the primary fund-raiser for the Mental Health Association of the Roanoke Valley.

"It will take people awhile to catch on," said Katie VanPatten, president of the Mental Health Association's board. "We have the same number of children's groups that come every year, but we don't have many new people. We hope if people figure out where we are, that would help."

In past years, finding a space for the display of lighted trees has been a challenge, VanPatten said. There was not enough space in many buildings to comply with the fire marshal's regulations for housing the trees.

The fire marshal requires that all the trees line up against walls. Each must have its own electric outlet.

For the past two years, the festival had been on the upper level of the First Union Tower, the former Dominion Tower.

"It was difficult to bring in ... the children and the people in wheelchairs," said VanPatten. "It was a hassle to go up and down those elevators. It was not convenient."

The view of the valley was great, but on weekdays, festival-goers had to pay for parking and hunt for spaces when the lots were full.

So when the Mental Health Association moved its offices into the Jefferson Center last year, the center's executive director, Jane Stephenson, agreed to reserve Fitzpatrick Hall for the Festival of Trees. The new space could accommodate 30 electric outlets for the trees and their spotlights, and the Mental Health Association had them installed.

That meant plenty of room for the 21 trees entered by businesses and civic groups this year.

The new ground-level location has easy access for the handicapped and small children. There also is plenty of parking, organizers say.

The trees will be on display through Christmas Eve. The display hours are noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Admission is $1.50 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 12. Children under 6 are free.

by CNB