Festival of Trees Becomes ‘Invite-Only’ Event Following Previous Display Backlash

Festival of Trees tree sponsored by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin. PC: Fox 11 Online

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The popular Festival of Trees event, hosted annually by the National Railroad Museum, will be different this year, following backlash from last year’s event.

In the past, the event was open to everyone; local businesses and organizations, as well as civic and religious groups. All it took was a donation between $75 and $150 for groups to decorate a tree and have it displayed in the museum.

The funds from the event all go directly back to the museum for educational programming.

But this year, the rules have changed.

In an email, an unnamed official at the museum said the event is now “invite-only.”

After an organization with the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay requested information about sponsoring a tree this year, museum officials told them the diocese is not included in the invite-only list. The email can be viewed here.

Concern from Bishop David Ricken came when the museum allowed for a display by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin at last year’s event.

The diocese condemned the display.

Father John Girotti with the Diocese of Green Bay called it offensive.

“The satanic religion, or whatever they call themselves, is diametrically opposed to Christianity. The symbols of the tree are often inverses or reverses of Christian symbols that alone, to speak nothing of the demonic, is also very offensive to us as Catholics and Christians.”

At the time, the museum said the event is inclusive and trees can be decorated in any way so long as they aren’t promoting violence, sexual content, drugs, or alcohol.

Officials also said at the time they had no intention of removing the Satanic Temple’s tree, and would welcome another submission from the group in the future.

National Railroad Museum CEO Jacqueline Frank says that it was back in January that the board of directors changed the policy for the event, without offering any more specifics.

Frank also says the museum hasn’t started working with the community yet on this year’s event.