The People’s City Mission kicks off annual Christmas tree tour at Gateway Mall

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The holiday spirit is alive and well at the Gateway Mall in Lincoln as the annual Starry Night’s Christmas tree festival kicked off Wednesday.

The event features over two dozen uniquely decorated trees that guests can bid on to support the homeless.

The People’s City Mission organizes the fundraiser, which is their largest of the year.

Bryan Davis, Vice President of Operations at PCM, says the timing of this event is ideal.

“Every year we have more people checked in to the mission because of the cold weather,” he said.

Davis describes how the entire community is doing their part to put it together.

“Each tree you see here was paid for by a different organization or company here in Lincoln, and then a local interior designer or artist did their part to bring it to life,” he said.

Each ornate piece ranges in price, and 10 trees have already been sold during a ‘sneak preview’ event on Tuesday.

Now that the tour of trees is open to the public, support for the event can utilize up to 50 volunteers throughout its duration.

Davis says up to 150,000 people were walking through the mall this time last year.

For volunteer Linda Siedhoff, the Starry Night event signifies a festive shift in the air.

“The energy is great, especially since we have singers and dancers that come on and lots of people come out and get excited,” she said.

For Jordan Knapp, another volunteer, working the event is a full-circle moment.

“The mission is a very special place. They took us in when we were homeless as a kid and gave my dad some breathing room, and some time to find a job, then it kept getting better year after year,” he said.

Knapp has been volunteering since 2016 and says, “Every year, we try to make it a little bit bigger, a little bit better, and a little bit more jolly.”

The families walking through the spirited landscape say they appreciate all it has to offer.

“We actually come every year for Starry Night,” said Nicole Castaner, who brought her son Miles and his friend Carson Sesil.

“We love that it’s at the mall. It’s nice to see the trees and to support the people’s city mission,” she said.

Trish and Tom Hearn brought their grandchildren, Aida and Freyda Lagre, to see the trees and vote on which one is their favorite.

“It’s a great place to bring your family,” said Trish. “Especially since it’s going to the People’s City Mission,” said Tom.

The event will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, then resume from Nov. 28 through Nov. 30, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

All proceeds will go directly to the People’s City Mission.