Bangles, baubles — and vinyl — star at Mary Bridge’s Festival of Trees

Let’s assume Santa needs to chill after delivering all those packages on Christmas Eve. Ever wonder what music he listens to?

If vintage vinyl is his bag, he’ll appreciate Sheldon Arkin’s unique display for the Festival of Trees, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital’s annual holiday fundraiser at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center.

In the spirit of the festival’s retro-leaning theme “Make A Joyful Noise,” Arkin designed a malt shop/love shack with exterior walls decorated with album covers from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

The longtime horticulturist, who maintains the grounds of MultiCare Health System properties, collected the albums from thrift shops over the past two years.

Their instant familiarity sparks plenty of conversation, Arkin said. “Everybody walks by and goes, ‘I had that album,’ or they’ll say, ‘That person’s dead or that person’s a state senator.’ ” His display and 51 other lavish creations and gift packages will be auctioned off at Friday evening’s gala.

Chief among the gems he discovered were unopened copies of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited.” He framed those and hung them on a wall inside the structure.

Arkin estimates he’s designed more than 40 tree displays since 1989 and their auction proceeds are approaching a million dollars. Never short of ideas, he’s created a dinosaur tree, one comprised of a clocks and a Pinocchio tree. “Every year’s different. I love doing it,” Arkin said.

Despite the theme of Sheldon’s display, he doesn’t own a turntable. “Maybe I’ll get one under the Christmas tree,” he said with a grin.

Designer Jeffery Swiney-Weaver also created a throwback display, a tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the animated holiday television program which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

The display features an illuminated, handcrafted Charlie Brown, a tree-topper of Snoopy and his little bird pal Woodstock, and, of course, the forlorn Christmas tree so central to the tale.

“It’s one of my favorites. Absolutely,” said Swiney-Weaver. “It brings you back to yesteryear. It’s part of my childhood.”

In this era of high-tech animation, the innocence of the story still resonates with him.

“Even 50 years ago it shows that there’s always someone who’s struggling in life. In the end everyone comes together and overcomes challenges.”

Stephanie Howe, event chair for the Festival of Trees, can relate.

After losing both her son, Jeff, and husband, Rodney, to different illnesses at tragically young ages, she’s found support and friendship working with volunteers at the festival over the past 20 years.

And she’s never forgotten the quality care her son received at Mary Bridge, including physical and occupational therapy.

“My son had a great personality, funnier than anything. Loved playing with the nurses, being crazy with them and stuff.”

When her husband died at 38, Jeff was only 6, so they also took advantage of Bridges, a grief counseling program for youth.

“It helped him understand that he wasn’t the only kid who’s lost a parent,” Howe said. “Kids grieve differently than adults and they need that support.”

As do the programs at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Howe said the Festival of Trees, in its 29th year, hopes to raise between $1.7 million to $2 million.

Although staging the festival is an exhausting yearlong process, Howe said she isn’t running on empty. “No, I’m running on chocolate.”

The public can view the trees from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $6. Children 13-18 years old are admitted for $2. Ages 12 and under get in free.

For more information, visit www.multicare.org/festival/.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Bangles, baubles — and vinyl — star at Mary Bridge’s Festival of Trees."