BATAVIA — It’s time once again for the Netherlands Land Office Museum to kick off Wonderland of Trees with a gala on Friday night. Area residents had their first chance to see the nearly 30 decorated Christmas trees, hear music from the Genesee Symphony Orchestra Brass Quartet and enter a raffle for a gift basket.
“We have 28 trees. In fact, it’s more than we’ve gotten in recent years,” said museum executive director Ryan Duffy. “It’s the local organizations and businesses that decorate them.”
Are there any organizations or companies that decorated trees for the first time for Wonderland of Trees?
“Actually, we have quite a few,” he said, naming Batavia Automotive Inc., HP Hood, LLC, genealogists from the Genesee area as new entrants to the 21st annual Wonderland.
Others who provided decorated trees this year are: Anna Ingalsbee Lovell Chapter NSDAR, Arc GLOW, Batavia Community Garden, Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, Batavia Garage Door, Batavia High School Life Skills Class, Chmielowiec Painting, Inc., City of Batavia Historic Preservation Commission, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, Friends of Batavia Peace Garden, Genesee Community College Teacher Education Club, Genesee County Office on Aging, Genesee County Women’s Republican Club , Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Genesee Symphony Orchestra, Mercy Flight, Museum Quilt Guild, Resurrection Roman Catholic Parish – St. Joseph’s & St. Mary’s, Stafford Garden Club, Stafford Historical Society, Tim Hortons Bakery & Cafe , Tompkins Community Bank, Town of Bergen Historian’s Office, WBTA AM & FM, Club Zonta de Batavia – Genesee County. The theme for Wonderland of Trees this year is “Flannel & Frosty” and food was provided by Le Roy’s D&R Depot.
“With the weather, I think it was a good crowd. He wasn’t sure how that would affect him,” Duffy said. “There are still quite a few people here.”
The orchestra will also perform three other concerts during the Christmas season at the HLOM.
The museum will be open regular hours through the end of the year and the trees will be there for the public to see, Duffy said.
Mike and Kathy Jackson from Batavia attended their first Wonderland of Trees this year.
“Friends encouraged us to come. We’re glad the weather didn’t postpone it,” said Kathy Jackson.
Mike Jackson said the event was something they could have had a chance to attend but never got to.
“We have been in Batavia for 30 years. We are still finding things like this that we haven’t done yet,” she said.
After trying some of the hors d’oeuvres, they planned to walk around and look at the trees and other decorations and listen to music.
“We like to support our local community,” said Kathy Jackson.