A desire to do something different for the eastern end of Lawrence County was the inspiration Shirley Dyer had to bring the Festival of Trees to Proctorville.

“I worked in a Festival of Trees when it was in Huntington,” Dyer, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce director, said. “I knew it did well financially.”

Now, starting on Thanksgiving Day, the festival will open at Ohio University Southern’s Proctorville Center.

“This is the first time we have ever done anything like this,” she said. “It’s the first time I have done anything like this. It is a learning experience and the community has been really supportive.”

There will be 34 trees, most with a theme from a variety of area designers. Seven of those have been decorated by the third graders throughout the county.

The festival starts at 2 p.m. Thursday and runs to 8 p.m. Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Saturday dedicated to children.

From 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday will be Breakfast with Santa. After 10 a.m. Santa will be available for selfie photos.

“There will be different stations like building gingerbread houses, marshmallow snowmen and face painting,” Dyer said. “The kids can move from station to station.”

Proceeds from the festival go to an endowed scholarship at Ohio University.

“Every year, we give $500 to one high school seniors in Lawrence County,” Dyer said.

“We want to continue and enhance that.”

All trees will be sold through a silent auction. Winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.