In 1990, a small group of visionaries commenced a mission to raise funds for the Peterborough Civic Hospital Foundation (now known as the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation), St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation (now the St. Joseph's Care Foundation), and for Hospice Peterborough. The organizers researched the concept of the festival, and learned of its success in other communities throughout Canada and the United States. The rest is history. The ambitious group of organizers successfully created a Victorian Village within the Memorial Centre during the first year and held a variety of special events to entice visitors to join in the celebrations and see the sights. The first year was a great success and the Peterborough holiday season tradition was established.

Well over 360,000 visitors from across Ontario and the United States have attended the spectacular festival and in more recent years over 250 businesses, small and large, have participated in various ways. Over the years, the layout of the 'village' has varied, themes have changed and new elements and events, as well as "pre-events" have been added to the schedule. Despite the many changes that the festival has undergone, the underlying objectives of raising funds for health is have remained. The mandate for the festival is:

"To undertake the organization, development, promotion and performance of an annual seasonal festival of music, performing arts, and related activities for the City of Peterborough.

To derive from the activities and promotional solicitations of the festival's donations, revenues and contributions of property for the benefit of health and care giving institutions in the City of Peterborough, generally, including Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, St. Joseph's Care Foundation, and Hospice Peterborough.

To distribute the revenues and income there from, to, for the benefit of, in response to the identified needs of the health and care-giving institutions, whether capital or operating, in such manner as may be determined to the best interests of providing enhanced health care in the City of Peterborough".

Accomplishing these objectives is no mean feat. The Festival Operational Executive Committee, the Council of Committee Chairs and their associated committees work year round preparing for the annual events. Over 1,500 volunteers are coordinated to fulfill the countless number of duties required to stage an event of this magnitude. Thousands of people hours are required to handle construction, underwriting, wrapping presents for the Silver Bell Shop, event planning, tree delivery and community sponsorships. The transformation of the Peterborough Memorial Centre into a holiday forest and the organization of entertainments and all the special events within the festival belies the amount of time, energy and dedication that the festival volunteers expend.

The Peterborough Festival of Trees currently ranks fifth in the over 200 Festival of Trees events held in Canada and the United States. It was also awarded as one of the prestigious Top 50 Events in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario.

The Peterborough and area citizens deserve to be proud of the successful fundraising efforts of the Festival of Trees for the past sixteen years. The seventeenth annual event will be held from November 20-25, 2007 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre with the two day annual Christmas House Tour kicking the Festival of on November 10th and 11th.