STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

More than $4,000 worth of jewelry glittered from the boughs of a tree dubbed “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

Fine champagne sitting at the base of the “Holiday Wishes and Champagne Dreams” tree lit up when the corks on the top were turned.

And the “Abounding Adorable Amazing Animalia” tree boasted an autographed copy of Graeme Base’s “Anamalia,” as well as an original storyboard from the 1946 filming of “The Yearling” and an original Hemingway book.

“We were going for over the top, and you can see this Festival of Trees from Baldy!” said Penny Weiss, as guests climbed the stairs of The Mint, which dangled with lighted icicles.

A sell-out crowd of about 150 people turned out this week for the Festival of Trees, the first to be held in the valley in four years. Like those before it, the proceeds went to the Senior Connection.

“I loved the Festival of Trees back in the day. It’s different from all the other events,” said Weiss, who owns an event planning company. “And I love that it benefits the Senior Connection because the Senior Connection stretches dollars further than anyone else in the valley. Plus, we’ll all end up there at some point.”

Weiss decided she wanted to bring back the Festival of Trees last spring. And she quickly assembled about 50 elves—many of them volunteers at The Senior Connection and the Wood River Women’s Foundation—to help.

The women began work in August, brainstorming ideas and gathering donations to assemble eight lavishly decorated trees.

And the day of the festival, they turned the second floor of The Mint into something resembling Santa’s workshop as they covered the floor with ornaments that eventually found their way onto eight trees.

 “I think Santa was a little jealous of my helpers,” Weiss said, acknowledging the work they had done.

The Noel Artiste’s Tree featured ornaments created by many of the artists in the Wood River Valley.

Christina Healy, Marie Sexton and Towne and Parke contributed jewelry for the tree; Christine Warjone, art depicting Sun Valley scenes showcased in Plexiglas; David Nelson, a birdhouse in the form of a sheep wagon; Cindy Kirk, a handbag; Dale Bullock, an ornament inspired by the iconic Sun Valley Barn; Narda Pitkethly, hand-blown glass balls,  and Jill Lear, an ornament based on her book documenting the witness trees of Texas.

“We had 48 donations from artists and had to turn some away,” said Leslie Silva, who decorated the tree with Terri LeFaivre and Jeanne Mowlds.

Those working on the Glistening Woodlands tree, sponsored by Topnotch Fine Furnishings Owners Arianne and Joshua Heyser, bound twigs and flowers together to perform magic.

 “We made something gorgeous out of nothing” said Sharon Olson.

And the “Holiday Wishes and Champagne Dreams” tree featured elves with champagne that lit up as it splashed out of their champagne flutes that lit up. Mardi Shepard contributed corks from her cork collection. And Brittany Pieschl provided the final touch, topping the tree with giant bubbles.

Chris Keirn led a group of volunteers in decorating the “Sun Valley Sports” tree, which featured hockey sticks, motorcycles and skates hanging from its branches and ten gift certificates for such things as a round of golf at Sun Valley Resort, a $100 gift card from Silver Creek Outfitters, a guided fishing trip with fishing guide Bob Knoebel, a month’s worth of classes at Boulder Mountain Crossfit and a BCRD Nordic pass.

And the “Abounding Adorable Amazing Anamalia” tree featured a giant stuffed lion found online, as well as a storytelling tea party.

Page Klune contributed the original storyboard from the 1946 film “The Yearling,” which had been gifted to the family by her father-in-law Raymond A. Klune, known for his work on “Gone with the Wind,” “Hell and High Water” and “That Hamilton Woman.”

“Those were the days when they created a storyboard for each scene,” said Klune who decorated the tree with Louise Wilson Noyes, Mardi Shepard and Teresa Beahen-Lipman.

The trees were auctioned off during a lavish gala featuring elves, prime rib and poinsettia cocktails at the newly reopened Mint in Hailey.

Emcee Pete Prekeges, who co-owns Grumpy’s and the Silver Dollar Saloon, drummed up support by recounting how he visited with a friend over lunch at the Senior Connection every Tuesday.

“The best two hours of my week and there’s no better food for the value in the valley,” he said.

The artist’s tree kick started the bidding at $1,700, with winner Trish Wilson donating it to the Senior  Connection.  By the time the evening was complete, each of the trees had gone for anywhere between $1,100 and $2,000 and the trees alone had raised $13,000 for the Senior Connection.

The next morning volunteers wrapped each tree in something similar to Saran Wrap, handing them off to A&A, which delivered them to their new homes.

Weiss was already planning the next Festival of Trees.

“It’ll be at the new Argyros Performing Arts Center,” she said. “So, it’ll be even bigger and better with an opportunity for people to come in and view the trees before we auction them off.”

WATCH ON TV

See a recap of this year's Festival of Trees on Eye on Sun Valley at 6:30 tonight on Cox Cable's Channel 13 (YURVIEW). The show re-airs at various times from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. throughout the week.