Volunteer

We can’t open our doors without you

We can’t open our doors to the thousands of visitors that come each year without the dedication of hundreds of wonderful volunteers.  When you volunteer, you help bring the joy of the holiday season to each guest and you join a group of dedicated people who have fun while they help make the Festival a truly magical community event.

Volunteers enjoy:

  • A complimentary admission ticket to visit the Festival at your convenience.
  • The opportunity to purchase 2 for 1 raffle tickets to win a tree, wreath, or $5000 cash.
  • An invitation to our annual Volunteer Appreciation event.
  • A chance to win one of multiple gift cards, including a $200 Amazon gift card.

The Festival of Trees Online Volunteer System will be available on Sunday, October 1, 2023. If you would like our Volunteer Team to contact you when the system becomes available, please complete the following form:

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    Volunteering Information

    Training is an important part of making your experience at the Festival of Trees enjoyable and successful.

    • If you volunteer for a role that requires use of an iPad, you must sign up for an in-person iPad Training Session. We are implementing new equipment this year and everyone will need to be trained prior to the opening of the Festival.
    • If you volunteer for a non-iPad role, you are not required to attend a General Training session. However, it’s important that you review the 2023 Volunteer Guide (coming soon). In addition, when your volunteer assignment is confirmed, you will be sent a pre-recorded video for your information.
    • If you are a new volunteer, would like a refresher, or simply have general questions, training opportunities will be presented when your volunteer request has been confirmed. As always, you can also reach one of our volunteer team members by emailing volunteer@methuenfestivaloftrees.com

    If you have any questions or problems, please contact volunteer@methuenfestivaloftrees.com or call/text 978-806-4728.

    ADMISSION AND RAFFLE PACKAGE ONLINE ORDER PICKUP AND SALES*
    Volunteers fulfill the online orders by assigning the pre-assembled selected ticket packages to the guest’s record in the order system and providing a digital receipt. iPad volunteers are also responsible for selling additional walk-up admission and raffle ticket sales, handling cash and processing credit card payments via the iPad. This task requires a familiarity with an Apple iPad, attention to detail and good data entry skills. These volunteers may be assigned to stations at the Main Entrance, the Mini Trees and Wreaths room, or Center Court.

    *iPad Users – High School Age or Older

    ADMISSIONS GREETER
    At least one volunteer is assigned at the front entrance area to verify admission tickets, welcome guests and provide basic information as needed.

    INFORMATION DESK
    One or two volunteers will be assigned to this station located on the main floor area. These volunteers will assist in directing guests to key areas in the festival, answer basic questions, hand out Scavenger Hunt sheets and prizes, share the Scavenger Hunt hints and tree location reference map, and help take guests’ photos at the nearby photo spot. This station will also sell the tickets for the 50/50 cash raffle. It does not require the use of an iPad.

    TREE GUIDE
    Notwithstanding our “Please Don’t Touch the Trees” signs, we’ve become increasingly concerned about damage being done to the trees during the Festival. As a result, each shift the Festival is open will include two to four volunteers who will monitor activity and the directional flow of guests.

    RAFFLE PACKAGE ASSEMBLY
    Because guests are pre-ordering their admissions and raffle tickets online in advance of visiting the Festival, we will need to have these packages assembled in advance so they can be picked up when guests arrive. This is a “back room” task and will be mainly done during hours when the Festival is not open. This is a perfect task for small groups of students who would like to volunteer together.

    TREE WATCH
    Since the offices at 13 Branch Street are open during hours the Festival is closed, we assign up to four volunteers per shift to monitor activity in and around the trees. These volunteers may also be asked to assist with some administrative tasks, such as raffle ticket package assembly.

    The Festival of Trees couldn’t happen without a large group of truly dedicated volunteers. Since the first Festival in 1994, literally thousands of volunteers have given their time and talents to make the Festival of Trees the success that it is today. We appreciate each and every one!
    In addition to the following tokens of our appreciation, the Board of Directors will host a special appreciation event in January following the Festival. Every volunteer will be personally invited to participate in the event.

    • A complimentary admission ticket to visit the Festival at your convenience.
    • The opportunity to purchase 2 for 1 raffle tickets to win a tree, wreath, or $5000 cash.
    • A chance to win one of multiple gift cards, including a $200 Amazon gift card.

    Each year, we welcome a number of student volunteers. Whether they come as part of a school group, with their parents, or alone, we’re happy to have young people become part of the Festival of Trees. Since many schools encourage their students to complete a certain number of community service volunteer hours, the Festival is a fun option to fulfill that commitment.

    The Festival of Trees offers an annual scholarship designed to assist young people who have volunteered at the Festival as high school students. The Festival’s Volunteer Team will notify student volunteers each year when the scholarship application window opens.