Welcome Back to the 38th Annual Festival at Torrance Memorial - It Will Light Up Your World
Welcome Back to the 38th Annual Festival at Torrance Memorial - It Will Light Up Your World
The magic of the holiday season will return this year in person under the big white tent at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. Celebrating our 38th year, the tradition of Holiday Festival continues with decorated Christmas trees, shopping, entertainment, sweet treats and more.
The Festival runs Tuesday, November 30 through Sunday, December 5 (closed to public on December 3 for Gala) in a 30,000-square-foot white tent located on Torrance Memorial’s campus. Admission to Holiday Festival's public hours is $5. Children age 5 and under are free. This year, due to COVID-19 requirements, proof of full vaccination is required to enter the tent for ages 12 and older. All persons must wear a face mask while in attendance. All events are subject to change and capacity limitations may apply based on CDC guidelines and requirements.
The tent is filled with exquisite sights including 32 custom-decorated holiday trees, the sweet aroma of savory treats and the sound of music and dancing. Highlights of this year’s tree line-up include The Great Merrier Reef that lets your imagination “dive” into a colorful underwater world, Enchanted Christmas Garden featuring magical botanical wonder, Busy Elves at Work sponsored by the Torrance Memorial Emergency Physicians who have lived this theme through the pandemic, and Pretty in PINK supporting Evelyn’s Breast Friends Forever, a non-profit group supporting breast cancer patients and survivors. Each tree on display is available for purchase.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute providing groundbreaking treatment options for all types of cardiovascular conditions. Attendance during any of the public exhibit hours contributes to the event's fundraising goals. Additionally, a 12-foot Heroes Tree will be set up in the Lundquist Tower lobby to honor your community hero. Recognition with your hero’s name will be posted on a compass ornament on the tree, and donors will be acknowledged with digital signage. Donations ranging from $150 to $10,000 can be made here. Click here to donate.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the Holiday Festival in person this year. Our community volunteers work tirelessly year-round to make this a truly amazing holiday experience,” said Laura Schenasi, executive vice president, Torrance Memorial Foundation. “It is such a great way to get in the holiday spirit, do some early holiday shopping and support Torrance Memorial serving our community.”
More than 60 workshop volunteers have given more than 3,000 hours of work throughout the year. These volunteers are behind the creation of hundreds of items – many made by hand – to be sold at the event’s Holiday Boutique — the largest in the South Bay. Hand-made items include mini-trees, wreaths, garlands, teardrops and various other workshop projects. More than 6,000 ornaments will be on display, and the entire Boutique will include more than $100,000 worth of inventory. Sweet and savory treats can be enjoyed from a food court, including baked goods and cookies from Torrance Bakery. The stage boasts music and dancing by local groups, and children and families will find fun activities, writing letters to Santa and more.
A Festival Fashion Show kicks off the festivities on Tuesday, November 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with special shopping from local vendors present this one day. After lunch, the fashion show, featuring original designs by Lourdes Chavez and Oliver Tolentino, presents fashion for all occasions, formal to casual. Tickets to the Fashion Show are $200 per person. The Festival Gala, including a silent and live auction on Friday, December 3 at 6 p.m. is sold out. The traditional Lunch with Santa will not be held this year. Online auction items are open for bidding November 18-23 by visiting www.biddingforgood.com/holidayfestival.
The hospital invites seniors and those with special needs to view the trees in a relaxed environment free of charge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, and Thursday, December 2. Advanced reservations are requested for groups.
Click here to make Senior group reservation .
During those hours a Unique Boutique will offer stocking stuffers all under $5.
On Saturday, December 4, the Torrance Fire and Police Departments will be collecting unwrapped new toys at the tent for the Toys for Tots Drive. Anyone bringing a new toy with a value of $5 or more will be given free admission all day. Fire trucks and police vehicles will be on hand for kids to climb on and sit inside between 2 to 6 p.m.
An Opportunity Drawing will take place Sunday, December 5 at 1 p.m., in the Holiday Festival tent for the chance to win a 2022 Toyota Camry XSE (estimated MSRP $40,000) donated by Toyota North America, U.S.A., Inc. Opportunity tickets may be purchased by calling the Torrance Memorial Foundation at 310-517-4703 or during public hours in the Festival tent.
Second prize is a specially decorated holiday tree, and third prize is $500 cash. Tickets are available at one for $50, three for $100 or five for $150. All visitors to the tent have the chance to win one of four opportunity trees uniquely-themed – Toy Story, Gingerbread Fun, 12 Days of Christmas and The Embodiment of Nature. Presence is not required to win.
For information about Holiday Festival, the events or for opportunity drawing tickets and Heroes Tree support, call the Torrance Memorial Foundation at 310-517-4703. For recorded general event information, call 310-517-4606 or visit www.TorranceMemorial.org/holidayfestival.
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