PRINCETON — The Morven Museum & Garden will host its Festival of Trees from November 20 to January 5, 2025, featuring decorated trees and mantels from local organizations and artists. This year’s event includes 18 participants, ranging from arts groups to garden clubs. The American Repertory Ballet, Arts Council of Princeton, and Historical Society of Princeton are among the contributors. “The level of detail and ingenuity in this year’s applicant pool was very impressive,” said Rhonda DiMascio, Morven’s Executive Director. “While selecting the right mix of exhibitors can be challenging, with the breadth of decorators the committee selected, the Festival of Trees 2024 will be a season highlight for long-time and new visitors alike.” The festival’s theme, “Traditions & Celebrations,” draws inspiration from Morven’s current exhibition about the museum’s history. A particularly poignant story involves former New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes, who experienced a memorable Christmas Eve in 1950 when Jewish friends helped him decorate a tree after losing his first wife. “Nothing makes a house a home more than holiday traditions,” said DiMascio. “A particularly special one began on Christmas Eve 1950 in Trenton.  Richard Hughes, who was not yet governor, had suddenly lost his first wife, Miriam, weeks earlier. Hughes did his best to pull Christmas together for his four small children, but nothing seemed right. When his Jewish friends got word of his situation, they arrived on Christmas Eve ready to decorate the tree. The interdenominational Christmas Eve visit became a tradition that continued after Hughes married Betty. She christened the event “Deck the Halls with Matzo Balls!” The museum will host a Winter Garden Party on December 5, offering visitors seasonal refreshments, family stories, and access to special exhibits. Tickets are available at morven.org or by contacting Megan Shackney, Morven’s Chief Development Officer, at [email protected]. Additional December events include wreath-making workshops, holiday teas, curator tours, and family activities. “Our programming and events schedule for December is a mix of Morven history, music, artmaking, and holiday celebration,” said Greer Luce, Morven Curator of Education & Public Programs. “December is certainly a special time at Morven.”