Rushmore Plaza Civic Center’s Rushmore Hall was the place to be Saturday for the coolest Christmas trees in town.

Mother and daughter Jan and Jackie Czywczynski of Rapid City stopped to take pictures of a Rush Hockey Team Christmas tree.

“I love it,” Jan Czywczynski said. “It has a great top.” The top included a fanned-out, autographed display of hockey sticks.

The Czywczynskis were among the 5,000 people who got an early taste of Christmas during Behavior Management Systems’ 12th annual Festival of Trees.

Margaret Skillman, public relations director for Behavior Management, said she was very pleased with the turnout and with the results of the preview party and auction the night before. “We had a great crowd and the most generous people,” she said.

Skillman said Saturday’s turnout was on par with last year’s. In addition to viewing stylish and unique Christmas trees, festivalgoers also had a chance to visit the North Pole, complete with a jumping castle, hands-on gingerbread man cookie decorating and a luge ride for the kids. The biggest attraction, of course, was Santa Claus. Cameras flashed continually during the steady flow of boys and girls on Santa’s lap.

Emily Johnson and her father, Jeremy Samuel, both of Rapid City, stood in Santa’s line with Johnson’s two children. Lillian Johnson, 3, waited patiently for the chance to ask Santa for some toys and a teddy bear while her 21-month old brother, Derrick Johnson, sat quietly in his stroller. This was the family’s first time to the Festival of Trees, and Samuel said he was glad they went.

“I think it’s very nice they have something like this,” he said. “It gives the kids something to do. It’s a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.”

There was plenty of other camera-flash action elsewhere in Rushmore Hall as people took pictures of their favorite Christmas trees and gingerbread houses. Some even used the occasion as a holiday backdrop for family photos.

Skillman said this year was the first they staged a Santa and sleigh setting where shutterbugs got the perfect shot.

“People just loved it,” Skillman said about the Santa scene. “I talked to quite a few people, and they said it’s going to be their Christmas card photo.”

The Rapid City Children’s Choir began the day’s entertainment, followed by members of the Black Hills Suzuki School, On Your Toes School of Dancing, Hot Shots and Barefoot Dance Studio. There was plenty of food and baked goods and plenty of seating and tables.

Avis Herdina of Rapid City took her time as she studied the trees, centerpieces and gingerbread houses.

“I think this gets people in the mood to shop and to buy Christmas wreaths,” she said. “The trees are lovely, and the gingerbread houses are wonderful.”

Herdina, a Rapid City Garden Club member, worked a table where the club sold wreaths. This is the first time the club has sold its wreaths before its annual sale, always held the first Saturday in December at Canyon Lake Senior Center.

The gingerbread houses were modeled after works of art by local watercolor artist Richard DuBois.

“It’s such a nice tribute to my work,” Dubois said. “I am just really delighted and pleased that they decided to do that.” He said the paintings the designers chose to recreate were extremely ambitious on their part. The edible houses included a lighthouse, a replica of the Old Hisega Lodge, log cabins and a barn.

The People’s Choice Award for gingerbread houses went to “Twisted Sister” designed by Mary Ellen Dotson that included a tornado and house.

“My guess is it probably took longer to make the houses than it was for me to do the paintings,” DuBois said.

The gingerbread houses will be on display at The Journey Museum through Christmas.

By Cindy Card Buchholz

Rushmore Plaza Civic Center’s Rushmore Hall was the place to be Saturday for the coolest Christmas trees in town.

Mother and daughter Jan and Jackie Czywczynski of Rapid City stopped to take pictures of a Rush Hockey Team Christmas tree.

“I love it,” Jan Czywczynski said. “It has a great top.” The top included a fanned-out, autographed display of hockey sticks.

The Czywczynskis were among the 5,000 people who got an early taste of Christmas during Behavior Management Systems’ 12th annual Festival of Trees.

Margaret Skillman, public relations director for Behavior Management, said she was very pleased with the turnout and with the results of the preview party and auction the night before. “We had a great crowd and the most generous people,” she said.

Skillman said Saturday’s turnout was on par with last year’s. In addition to viewing stylish and unique Christmas trees, festivalgoers also had a chance to visit the North Pole, complete with a jumping castle, hands-on gingerbread man cookie decorating and a luge ride for the kids. The biggest attraction, of course, was Santa Claus. Cameras flashed continually during the steady flow of boys and girls on Santa’s lap.

Emily Johnson and her father, Jeremy Samuel, both of Rapid City, stood in Santa’s line with Johnson’s two children. Lillian Johnson, 3, waited patiently for the chance to ask Santa for some toys and a teddy bear while her 21-month old brother, Derrick Johnson, sat quietly in his stroller. This was the family’s first time to the Festival of Trees, and Samuel said he was glad they went.

“I think it’s very nice they have something like this,” he said. “It gives the kids something to do. It’s a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.”

There was plenty of other camera-flash action elsewhere in Rushmore Hall as people took pictures of their favorite Christmas trees and gingerbread houses. Some even used the occasion as a holiday backdrop for family photos.

Skillman said this year was the first they staged a Santa and sleigh setting where shutterbugs got the perfect shot.

“People just loved it,” Skillman said about the Santa scene. “I talked to quite a few people, and they said it’s going to be their Christmas card photo.”

The Rapid City Children’s Choir began the day’s entertainment, followed by members of the Black Hills Suzuki School, On Your Toes School of Dancing, Hot Shots and Barefoot Dance Studio. There was plenty of food and baked goods and plenty of seating and tables.

Avis Herdina of Rapid City took her time as she studied the trees, centerpieces and gingerbread houses.

“I think this gets people in the mood to shop and to buy Christmas wreaths,” she said. “The trees are lovely, and the gingerbread houses are wonderful.”

Herdina, a Rapid City Garden Club member, worked a table where the club sold wreaths. This is the first time the club has sold its wreaths before its annual sale, always held the first Saturday in December at Canyon Lake Senior Center.

The gingerbread houses were modeled after works of art by local watercolor artist Richard DuBois.

“It’s such a nice tribute to my work,” Dubois said. “I am just really delighted and pleased that they decided to do that.” He said the paintings the designers chose to recreate were extremely ambitious on their part. The edible houses included a lighthouse, a replica of the Old Hisega Lodge, log cabins and a barn.

The People’s Choice Award for gingerbread houses went to “Twisted Sister” designed by Mary Ellen Dotson that included a tornado and house.

“My guess is it probably took longer to make the houses than it was for me to do the paintings,” DuBois said.

The gingerbread houses will be on display at The Journey Museum through Christmas.