Centre Co., PA (WJAC) — The Centre County Festival of Trees returned in-person Saturday after two years.

While the festival is all about the trees, it could easily be called the festival of lights.

"We could tell it was going to be a special event and people wanted to get out just because of the amount of foot traffic coming through the doors last night,” said Joe Luther, a Horticulture & landscaping instructor at CPI.

Sixty-five Christmas trees, towering over a converted cafeteria, at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.

Strung with lights, ornaments, and tree-toppers, locals stroll through the forest of lights.

Local folks, area businesses, and groups decorated their own tree with a unique theme.

Officials then judge the trees and hand out awards.

The festival of trees each year raises money for a number of CPI's student programs, including its career and technical education students.

"It goes 100% back to our students, for travel expenses, for competitions, for registration."

Joe Luther, a horticulture and landscaping instructor at CPI, is one of the event's organizers.

He says the festival raised over $10,000 last year, even though it was only virtual.

"So, what we're seeing is, a lot of people want to get out, they want to come back through and get some of those traditions back."

And clearly so! Since last night's grand opening saw hundreds of people check out the dazzling display.

Luther says this is about the tenth year the festival has lit up Centre County.

"There's all different types of stuff to see, and you see people walking in and out of the trees and it really gets them into the Christmas spirit."

After the festival ends, Luther says the trees are donated to the Bellefonte Faith Center.

The Centre County Festival of Trees will continue Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

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