What exactly do you do with an ugly yellow, 8-foot artificial Christmas tree?
Members of the Braddock Trail Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution weren’t sure after they bought it several years ago at a summer clearance sale at Brilhart Ace Hardware in Scottdale.
“It really is an ugly tree,” said member Rosalind Ashmun.
So it went into the basement of their headquarters in the Samuel Warden Mansion in Mt. Pleasant.
Inspired this year by the 50th anniversary of “Sesame Street,” they topped it with a Big Bird mask, draped it with yellow feather boas, hung it with Sesame Street figurines and colorful paper lanterns and brought it out for their 30th annual Festival of Lights.
The festival, featuring an array of decorated trees for sale, opened with a Nov. 30 reception and continues Dec. 5-8.
For those with more traditional tastes, there are trees adorned with Santas, snowmen, mittens, silver bells and plaid ribbons. Patriots can pick between two with red, white and blue themes. There’s a beach-themed “Christmas in Paradise” tree, along with a trio in silver, white and blue called “Snow,” “Frozen” and “Winter Wonderland.”
Guests enjoying a treat in the mansion’s dining room were awed by the sight of a ceiling-height tree clad in red, green and gold balls and lights — with a matching swag gracing the mantel, courtesy of the decorating talents of Harry Hunter.
Among DAR members welcoming guests on opening day were Ashmun, Peggy Shepler, Annie Roller, Karen Westerlund, Melva Roland, Esther Reese and Sue Hoke.
Seen: Linda Darr, Kathy Glessner, Monty and Janis Gamble, Gary and Charmel Makovsky, Rudy and Toni Boccabella, Carrie Fascetta, Giana Fascetta, Lisa Jeffrey, Linda Christopher, Sally Schenck, Robert Schenck, William Chang, Izzy Schenck-Chang and Evan Schenck-Chang.
