It’s official. Forget Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – in Vero Beach the holiday season begins with the Festival of Trees at Riverside Theatre, a now 20-year tradition enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

The entire Riverside Theatre campus was transformed into a winter wonderland last weekend, from twinkling lights and mesmerizing icicle lights dripping from the mossy oaks to the Festival Forest inside the Riverside Children’s Theatre. There, designers embraced this year’s Sugar and Spice theme by creating scrumptious Christmas trees, whimsical wreaths and elaborate gingerbread house displays.

Proceeds from the weekend-long Festival of Trees, chaired this year by Nancy Large, Lyn Law and Barbara Woodward, support the various Riverside Children’s Theatre programming and scholarships.

Things kicked off Friday evening with a gala that began in the Grand Festival Hall, aka the Orchid Lobby and Waxlax Theatre, with libations and a Howl at the Moon performance. Guests next strolled over to the Festival Forest to bid on the beautifully decorated confections and got a jump on Christmas, shopping at a dozen Festival vendors and choosing from a selection of miniature trees and other goodies in the Christmas Shoppe.

Weekend activities included plenty of activities for the little ones, including visits with Santa, crafts and “ice” skating. There were also stage performances by various musical groups and even a special Saturday Family Night with a preview of “A Christmas Story, The Musical.”

Without a doubt, it would even have put old Ebenezer Scrooge in the holiday mood.