The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts will host the 2015 Festival of Trees on Saturday, November 28 beginning at 6:30pm at Brown Deer Golf Club, located at 1900 Country Club Drive in Coralville.

This annual event features live and silent auctions of artistically decorated trees and wreaths created by local artists and organizations.  In addition to the auction, the event features heavy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and performances by City Circle, Young Footliters, and dancing to Rod Pierson's Not-So Big Band.  The popular grab bags will again feature exciting prizes for both children and adults!

Tickets ($25, or 10 for $200) are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center.

Breakfast with Santa

Families are invited to join Santa at Brown Deer Golf Club for pancakes, fruit, juice, and coffee on the morning of November 28 at 9am or 10:30am, all in the gorgeous atmosphere of the Festival of Trees.  Santa's elves will have crafts, and each family will get to take a picture with Santa, which will be emailed by the following Monday, perfect for holiday cards!

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event, and are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center.

Festival of Trees Open House - Friday, November 27 1:00-5:00 pm

Enjoy pie and coffee while you get a special preview of the trees and wreaths created for this year's Festival!  Admission is only $5 at the door at Brown Deer Golf Club.

City Circle Acting Company is the community theater program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Since 1997, City Circle's mission has been the production of high quality dramatic, musical, and performing art pieces for the enjoyment of the public.  Upcoming City Circle productions include Oliver (December 11-20), Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (February 12-14), and 1776 (April 29-May 8).

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Parents - do you need a few hours without the kiddos to run errands, have a date night, or go to dinner? The downtown Y is now offering, Kids Night Out! The Y staff has tons of fun and exciting activities planned throughout the evening including arts & crafts, swimming, movies and gym time. They will also serve the kids dinner. 

Mount Prospect, IL - As Illinois residents prepare their homes for the holiday season, the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) advises them to be aware of and avoid potential fire and burn hazards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires ? followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ? while candle and decoration fires peak in December.

"Unfortunately, fire and burn prevention measures are often overlooked during the holiday season as families have their minds on the celebrations themselves, but statistics prove that we should be even more attentive to fire safety during this time," says IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski.

Cooking Safety

Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and injuries. It is also the third leading cause of home fire deaths. In 2013, Thanksgiving had more than three times the average daily number of reported home structure fires caused by cooking.

• Do not cook when tired or leave cooking unattended.

• Unplug appliances in case of a fire.

• Do not use water to put out grease fires.

• Prevent scald burns to children by turning pot handles inward on the stovetop; create a three-foot, child-free zone around the stove.

• Push the test buttons on your smoke alarms to make sure they are properly working.

• Do not use turkey fryers indoors; consider purchasing a turkey cooking appliance that does not use oil, as oil splashes and spills cause serious burn injuries.

Candle, Decoration & Lighting Safety

Nearly half of all holiday decoration fires occur because decorations are placed too close to a heat source. Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles, which most commonly occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• Never leave candles unattended.

• Place candles on flat, heat-resistant surfaces at least one foot away from anything that can burn.

• Battery-operated flameless candles are better alternatives to traditional candles.

• Keep decorations clear from heat sources and be sure they are flame resistant or flame retardant.

• Choose live trees that are fresh and green with needles that are difficult to remove.

• Keep live trees well watered and away from heat sources that can dry them out.

• Live trees should be disposed of shortly after Christmas.

• Tree lights should be turned off overnight and when residents leave home.

Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in nearly two-thirds of fires involving holiday or decorative lights.

• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so cords are not damaged.

• Check if lights are intended for indoor are outdoor use and use appropriately.

• Outdoor lights should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlet.

• When choosing lighting and electrical components, be sure they are UL listed to limit risks.

• Do not overload electrical outlets/extension cords; electrical components can overheat and ignite.

• Replace or repair damaged cords.

• Avoid placing extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

• Call a qualified electrician if outlets or switches are warm and if there are frequently blown fuses or tripping circuits.

NFPA Statistics: "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" (November 2015); "Home Structure Fires That Began with Decorations" (November 2013); "Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires" (November 2013).