The holiday season will bring a forest of festive decorations to downtown Kamloops as the Festival of Trees returns to the Delta Hotel Kamloops for its second year, inviting residents to admire decorated Christmas trees while supporting children’s health care across British Columbia.
Presented in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the free community event runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027, at the hotel at 540 Victoria St. Visitors can walk through the lobby, view trees decorated by local businesses and organizations, and vote for their favourite displays.
Nikki Goodwin, director of sales at the Delta Hotel Kamloops, helped bring the longstanding provincial tradition to the city after previously being involved with the event at other properties.
“I was really excited to bring it to Kamloops,” Goodwin said.
The event made its local debut in 2025, attracting businesses interested in sponsoring trees and families looking for a seasonal outing. This year, organizers hope to build on that response by expanding the display from 16 trees to 22, creating more opportunities for local groups to participate.
Each participating business or organization sponsors a tree and decorates it according to a chosen theme. Displays can feature company branding and colours or embrace traditional holiday favourites, from candy canes to other festive designs.
Visitors can scan a QR code beneath each tree to cast a vote. The event recognizes both the most popular tree and the tree that raises the most money, giving attendees an opportunity to support their favourite displays through donations.
Goodwin said the event’s local connections became particularly apparent during its inaugural year, as residents shared stories about family members who had received care at BC Children’s Hospital.
“You just don’t realize how intertwined BC Children’s Hospital is even to our local community here,” she said.
Although the hospital is based in Vancouver, it provides specialized care to children from communities throughout the province. Funds raised through the Festival of Trees support the foundation’s most urgent needs, helping address immediate requirements for equipment, staffing and other hospital resources.
For Goodwin, that connection is central to the event’s purpose. She hopes visitors leave with a greater appreciation of the hospital’s role in supporting children and families, including those facing rare diseases and complex medical needs.
Organizing the festival takes months of preparation. Goodwin works with the foundation to coordinate logistics, while the hotel team begins contacting returning sponsors and prospective participants during the summer. Businesses can register to sponsor a tree through the foundation’s event website, with sponsorship levels offering different tree sizes and display placements.
Local participation is essential to the festival’s growth, Goodwin said. Businesses provide the decorated displays, while community members help spread the word, visit the hotel and contribute to fundraising efforts. In the first year, groups from daycares and seniors’ residences toured the trees, alongside families visiting throughout the holiday season.
The hotel’s location on Victoria Street also makes the display accessible to people attending Kamloops’ annual Santa Claus Parade, offering an opportunity to take in the trees before or after the downtown celebration.
The event is free to attend, and donations are welcome. Local businesses interested in sponsoring a tree or organizing a team to decorate one can contact Goodwin at the Delta Hotel Kamloops for more information.
As preparations continue for the November opening, organizers are looking to grow a holiday tradition that combines seasonal community activities with support for children receiving care across B.C.