BRISTOL — It’s likely you’ve never celebrated Christmas quite like this. Back for the fifth year, the Addison County Young Life Mr. Christmas Tree Pageant will take place this Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Mount Abraham Union High School Auditorium.
Each year around 250 people from the community are treated to a unique, hilarious and free evening. In traditional pageant style, seven senior boys will compete for the crown of “Mr. Christmas Tree” through formal wear, interviews, a bathing suit competition, and talent portions followed by a parade of “Living Christmas Trees.”
Past title winners include Luke Calzini, Brandon Mansfield, Matt Mullins, and last year’s tandem winners, Chris Wood and Keion Correll.
Each of this year’s contestants has recruited two to three friends and classmates to serve on their team as “elves.” Each team is busily coming up with creative ways to entertain and impress the crowd with outrageous costumes and choreographed programs. Ultimately, it will be up to a panel of five “celebrity” judges from the community to determine the 2017 winner.
In addition to the competition, those in attendance will be treated to humorous hosts, live carolers and fast paced transitions. The evening is free to the public and appropriate for all ages.
Young Life is an organization for adolescents. Their staff and volunteers enter the world of kids, focusing on what matters to them — fun, adventure, friendship and a sense of significance. In doing so, they earn the privilege of talking to them about something Young Life organization members think matters most of all — the truth about God and His love for them.
All are invited to cheer on this year’s contestants: Bryson Knight “Mr. Evergreen,” Chris Boyer “Mr. Fir,” Eli Jenson “Mr. Cypress,” Isaac Giles “Mr. Spruce,” Jack Nop “Mr. Pine,” Phoenix King “Mr. Balsam,” and Ryan Bonar “Mr. Cedar.”
Questions about the event can be directed to Young Life Area Director Todd Goodyear at 349-0498.      CONTESTANTS IN THE first Mr. Christmas Tree pageant show off their trees on the stage of Holley Hall during the event. Photo by Buzz Kuhns