Akron Children's Hospital is bringing back its biggest fundraiser of the year, with the 45th annual Holiday Tree Festival set to fill the John S. Knight Center with 154 decorated trees, 84 wreaths and 179 holiday gifts from Nov. 14 through Nov. 22. Admission is free, and every tree, wreath and gift on display is for sale, with proceeds flowing directly back into the hospital's work.
The festival will be held at the John S. Knight Center, located at 77 E. Mill St. in downtown Akron, according to businessjournaldaily.com. Sales of the trees, wreaths and holiday décor raise money for the hospital, and the event has pulled in more than $7.9 million over its history to support medical research, education and patient care programs, the outlet reports.
That running total marks an increase from the roughly $7.6 million the festival had raised as of last year's event, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The 2025 festival featured 153 decorated trees, 70 wreaths and 172 holiday gifts for purchase, meaning this year's inventory has grown across every category. According to Cleveland.com, the hospital describes the Holiday Tree Festival as Akron Children's largest annual fundraiser.
What Visitors Will Find on Display
Cleveland.com reports that this year's trees and wreaths will carry themes ranging from angels, gingerbread men and candy canes to snowmen and woodland animals, alongside displays inspired by pop culture figures including Dolly Parton, Charlie Brown, Dory, the Grinch, and characters from Harry Potter and Star Wars. Entertainment will include performances by dozens of choirs, orchestras and instrumentalists throughout the nine-day run, plus a visit from Santa Claus himself, per the same outlet.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. on Nov. 14 at the John S. Knight Center, Cleveland.com reports, kicking off the festival's opening day. Breakfast with Santa events are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 and Nov. 21, with registration available through Akron Children's website, according to businessjournaldaily.com. That mirrors last year's format, when Breakfasts with Santa were held on similar Saturdays with online registration, per Akron Children's Hospital.
Hours Shift Throughout the Nine-Day Run
The festival's hours vary by day. Doors open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 14, then shift to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 15. From Nov. 16 through Nov. 20, the festival runs 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, according to the hospital's event page. Hours return to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 21 before closing out with 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours on Nov. 22.
Behind the scenes, the festival depends on more than 1,000 volunteers each year, the hospital notes. Event chair Susan Berk said the festival keeps growing in popularity while staying free thanks to sponsors, decorators, volunteers and buyers, a dynamic Cleveland.com highlighted in its coverage of this year's event. Berk's role as chair has been a fixture of the festival for years, according to Akron Children's own video coverage of the event.
Nearly Five Decades of Fundraising
The festival's growth from 2025 to 2026 — adding a tree, 14 wreaths and seven gift items, alongside roughly $300,000 more in lifetime fundraising — reflects a tradition that has expanded steadily since it began, per businessjournaldaily.com. Proceeds continue to support what the hospital describes as its efforts to provide care for children while advancing medical research and education, according to Cleveland.com's reporting on the event. With 45 years behind it, the Holiday Tree Festival remains Akron Children's single biggest fundraising event, as the hospital itself has stated.
