Lukas Hyder, Executive Director of the White Memorial Foundation, is also a woodturner and the holiday trees he makes are sought-after collector’s items.
He makes as many as he can each year for the holiday season and they sell out quickly.
This year, the trees, which can only be purchased in-person at the White Memorial Conservation Center and Nature Museum gift shop, will be available beginning Dec. 6 at the 2nd annual Sip and Shop event from 5 to 7 p.m.
All the wood to make Hyder’s trees comes from White Memorial Foundation trail cleanup, and this year some of the wood came from The King Oak on the right side of the entrance road to the Conservation Center. More than 200 years old, the tree lost a large limb over the summer.
During the Sip and Shop and afterward, the gift shop will be full of local, unique, and affordable items perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Amanda Surveski Wildlife Art, Stead Farm, RFarm-Local Organic Farm, Of Coins and Crystals, and Michael Shulde’s Woodturning will also be on hand, selling their local products.
Litchfield Distillery will be there sampling their tasty drinks, there will be cookies from Litchfield Catering and Deli, and more snacks curated by Gerri Griswold of White Memorial.
See the event listing to learn more.