November 29, 2025 • 7 mins
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society's annual Festival of Trees is underway in Wellesley. From sparkling holiday trees to model trains, there's a little something for everyone, even down to the hot chocolate and s'mores keeping you warm as you wander through the Garden at Elm Bank! Allison Dush, the Director of Programs and Education at the Society, talks with Nichole about this family-friendly holiday event that serves as the Society's biggest fundraiser of the year.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each and every week right here, we come together, we
talk about all the topics important to you and the
place where you live. Wepe you had a great Thanksgiving
with your loved ones. Thanks so much for tuning in.
I'm Nicole Davis. Now that the days are getting shorter,
we have that crisp late fall chill in the air.
Thanksgiving it's done. We turn our minds to Christmas and
(00:30):
the holidays. This weekend, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley
is opening up at seventeenth annual Festival of Trees. Each
one of these trees is thoughtfully decorated and there's so
much to see as you walk through the garden at
Elm Bank. Let's talk about the event now. Alison dush
is the director of Programs and Education at the Society,
and before we talk about the particulars about the event, Allison,
(00:53):
let's get some history because as far as I know,
the Society has been around for some time.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Oh gosh, yeah, So we were founded in eighteen twenty nine,
so there has been a lot of things over the years,
but essentially we were founded for a group of people
who got together that we're looking to grow things and
bring new vegetables and fruits and into this area. So
(01:19):
we're kind of still following that by getting people to
grow together, and that's something we do out here at
the garden and.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Old Bank beautiful. And then of course we're getting into
the holiday season and with all those gorgeous plants and
beautiful trees, I mean, why would you not decorate them?
It seems like the perfect excuse.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, so the garden totally transforms into a new I
would say, a whole new light during Festival Trees, which
you know during summer we have all of everything's flowering
and beautiful and there's all these colors, but then we
completely switch over with the lights and all seventy of
the trees and the honeywell building that are decorated differently
(01:59):
with beams and things like that. It kind of makes
you see us in a very different way, for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So let's talk really quickly then about when somebody shows
up during the Festival of Trees, tell me about I
guess a walk through what they would experience when they're there.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
When people come, we sell our tickets ahead of time,
so you always want to get your ticket online before
you show up, but you'll check in with our admissions
team and you get free hot chocolate that comes with
your ticket, so you'll get your hot chocolate, and then
you'll walk through the garden areas. We kind of have
a pathway that meanders through so you can see all
of the light displays. But you'll check things out outside
(02:38):
and then you'll head inside and you'll see our model
railroad room, which is cutely named Snow Village. It's about
seven or eight different trains running through the display. You'll
notice scenes from London, things from Boston, lots of sites
and sounds in that area. And then you'll make your
(02:59):
way back outside and over to our Honeywell building, which
is full of the artificial trees that are all decked
out for this season. We actually raffle those off so
you can purchase raffle tickets, so if you see one
that you love, you can drop your ticket in and
fingers crossed, it gets pulled and you get a ticket
home at the end of the show. And it's not
just like bobbles and ornaments. There's different things like seeds
(03:24):
and gifts and different gift cards and books, so lots
of fun things that you don't always think of when
you're thinking a decorated holiday tree. Yeah, and then as
you wrap up your visit, you get a Smores packet
with your ticket too, so you're going to head outside
and roastmores by the fire pits and kind of wrap
(03:45):
up your night there.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Oh my gosh, this sounds amazing, and I'd imagine that
it takes a couple hours to get through all of that,
but it's totally family friendly and you can really dedicate
a whole afternoon to just enjoying yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Oh definitely, Yeah, definitely family friend really all ages. We
have people young and old who come back every year
because it's kind of became a tradition for them, but
it just continues to grow each year, so there's always
something different when you're here. But always we tell everybody
if you're coming, expect a couple I would say an hour,
(04:18):
probably two to three hours to be on site and
just make a day of it.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, And of course the sun setting so early this
time of year, you can if you come later in
the afternoon, then you get the lights as well.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Definitely, yep, lights are on through the whole thing, but
they of course they look better when it's darker.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Of course, now it probably requires a lot of people
to be at the society to make all this happen.
Do you run with volunteers? Are you looking for help
at this point?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, So we have our stap on site and we
do have a really great core of volunteers. We are
taking seasonal volunteers. If you want to help with the show,
there's a sign up on our website and you can
get in our system and you'll see everything available. But
it definitely takes about we need to fill about three
hundred volunteer positions throughout the hire show.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So you talk about the smores and you've got the
hot Coco, but is there another are there other food
and drink options for people there or is that what
you've got?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yep. So we have food trucks that come in throughout
the show and they change different days. We always say
to check our Instagram page or on our website to
see who's going to be there that day. Or you
can always give us a call too and we can
let you know who's on the schedule.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Okay, great, Now, when it comes to getting those tickets again,
getting them in advance is important, but you've got off
peak and peak tickets, so that's a difference there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yep, yep. So there's different prices depending on when you're
looking to come, and then as well if you are
an MHS member or not. But always grab your tickets online.
We do sell out for different times, so getting them
ahead of time is key, and then you're able to
just check in by giving us your name. There's no
need to print tickets or anything, so it makes it
(05:52):
a seamless experience when you arrive.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, and if you can't get there before Christmas, you've
got a couple days afterwards too, so don't stress out
you can't get in earlier than that.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Oh yeah, definitely. I think after the holiday happens, it's
more fun anyways, because you're a little more relaxed and
you've got some extra time and everybody's on vacation. So
I would say that's kind of like the sweet spot
to come.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
So if people want to get their tickets, if they
want to find out more about the event, they want
to learn more about the society, how can they connect
with you.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, so we're online at masshort dot org. Short and
sweet tickets, right on our front page. There you'll see
our bar for grabbing tickets. If you need any help,
give us a call. We can help that help you
there too. Also, if you follow us on social media,
our handles for Facebook and Instagram exact same as a website,
so it's an easy one to remember.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Thank you so much, Allison. This is looking like a
beautiful event. It is every year, and all the best
as we go through the festive season.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thanks for gearing up. We're ready, but it's going to
hit hard and that's always fun when it starts.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Join us again next
week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis
from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each and every week right here, we come together, we
talk about all the topics important to you and the
place where you live. Wepe you had a great Thanksgiving
with your loved ones. Thanks so much for tuning in.
I'm Nicole Davis. Now that the days are getting shorter,
we have that crisp late fall chill in the air.
Thanksgiving it's done. We turn our minds to Christmas and
(00:30):
the holidays. This weekend, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley
is opening up at seventeenth annual Festival of Trees. Each
one of these trees is thoughtfully decorated and there's so
much to see as you walk through the garden at
Elm Bank. Let's talk about the event now. Alison dush
is the director of Programs and Education at the Society,
and before we talk about the particulars about the event, Allison,
(00:53):
let's get some history because as far as I know,
the Society has been around for some time.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Oh gosh, yeah, So we were founded in eighteen twenty nine,
so there has been a lot of things over the years,
but essentially we were founded for a group of people
who got together that we're looking to grow things and
bring new vegetables and fruits and into this area. So
(01:19):
we're kind of still following that by getting people to
grow together, and that's something we do out here at
the garden and.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Old Bank beautiful. And then of course we're getting into
the holiday season and with all those gorgeous plants and
beautiful trees, I mean, why would you not decorate them?
It seems like the perfect excuse.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, so the garden totally transforms into a new I
would say, a whole new light during Festival Trees, which
you know during summer we have all of everything's flowering
and beautiful and there's all these colors, but then we
completely switch over with the lights and all seventy of
the trees and the honeywell building that are decorated differently
(01:59):
with beams and things like that. It kind of makes
you see us in a very different way, for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So let's talk really quickly then about when somebody shows
up during the Festival of Trees, tell me about I
guess a walk through what they would experience when they're there.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
When people come, we sell our tickets ahead of time,
so you always want to get your ticket online before
you show up, but you'll check in with our admissions
team and you get free hot chocolate that comes with
your ticket, so you'll get your hot chocolate, and then
you'll walk through the garden areas. We kind of have
a pathway that meanders through so you can see all
of the light displays. But you'll check things out outside
(02:38):
and then you'll head inside and you'll see our model
railroad room, which is cutely named Snow Village. It's about
seven or eight different trains running through the display. You'll
notice scenes from London, things from Boston, lots of sites
and sounds in that area. And then you'll make your
(02:59):
way back outside and over to our Honeywell building, which
is full of the artificial trees that are all decked
out for this season. We actually raffle those off so
you can purchase raffle tickets, so if you see one
that you love, you can drop your ticket in and
fingers crossed, it gets pulled and you get a ticket
home at the end of the show. And it's not
just like bobbles and ornaments. There's different things like seeds
(03:24):
and gifts and different gift cards and books, so lots
of fun things that you don't always think of when
you're thinking a decorated holiday tree. Yeah, and then as
you wrap up your visit, you get a Smores packet
with your ticket too, so you're going to head outside
and roastmores by the fire pits and kind of wrap
(03:45):
up your night there.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Oh my gosh, this sounds amazing, and I'd imagine that
it takes a couple hours to get through all of that,
but it's totally family friendly and you can really dedicate
a whole afternoon to just enjoying yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Oh definitely, Yeah, definitely family friend really all ages. We
have people young and old who come back every year
because it's kind of became a tradition for them, but
it just continues to grow each year, so there's always
something different when you're here. But always we tell everybody
if you're coming, expect a couple I would say an hour,
(04:18):
probably two to three hours to be on site and
just make a day of it.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, And of course the sun setting so early this
time of year, you can if you come later in
the afternoon, then you get the lights as well.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Definitely, yep, lights are on through the whole thing, but
they of course they look better when it's darker.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Of course, now it probably requires a lot of people
to be at the society to make all this happen.
Do you run with volunteers? Are you looking for help
at this point?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, So we have our stap on site and we
do have a really great core of volunteers. We are
taking seasonal volunteers. If you want to help with the show,
there's a sign up on our website and you can
get in our system and you'll see everything available. But
it definitely takes about we need to fill about three
hundred volunteer positions throughout the hire show.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So you talk about the smores and you've got the
hot Coco, but is there another are there other food
and drink options for people there or is that what
you've got?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yep. So we have food trucks that come in throughout
the show and they change different days. We always say
to check our Instagram page or on our website to
see who's going to be there that day. Or you
can always give us a call too and we can
let you know who's on the schedule.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Okay, great, Now, when it comes to getting those tickets again,
getting them in advance is important, but you've got off
peak and peak tickets, so that's a difference there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yep, yep. So there's different prices depending on when you're
looking to come, and then as well if you are
an MHS member or not. But always grab your tickets online.
We do sell out for different times, so getting them
ahead of time is key, and then you're able to
just check in by giving us your name. There's no
need to print tickets or anything, so it makes it
(05:52):
a seamless experience when you arrive.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, and if you can't get there before Christmas, you've
got a couple days afterwards too, so don't stress out
you can't get in earlier than that.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Oh yeah, definitely. I think after the holiday happens, it's
more fun anyways, because you're a little more relaxed and
you've got some extra time and everybody's on vacation. So
I would say that's kind of like the sweet spot
to come.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
So if people want to get their tickets, if they
want to find out more about the event, they want
to learn more about the society, how can they connect
with you.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, so we're online at masshort dot org. Short and
sweet tickets, right on our front page. There you'll see
our bar for grabbing tickets. If you need any help,
give us a call. We can help that help you
there too. Also, if you follow us on social media,
our handles for Facebook and Instagram exact same as a website,
so it's an easy one to remember.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Thank you so much, Allison. This is looking like a
beautiful event. It is every year, and all the best
as we go through the festive season.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thanks for gearing up. We're ready, but it's going to
hit hard and that's always fun when it starts.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Join us again next
week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis
from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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