A Whidbey Island holiday tradition returns to South Whidbey for the fifth year, as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County presents its annual Festival of Trees Gala and Auction.

This year’s festival will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club. Tickets are $85 per person.

This entertaining formal event, featuring uniquely decorated trees and wreaths for auction, benefits children in the community by matching them with positive role-models in one-to-one relationships.

Nationally, the nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters has been the leader in one-to-one mentoring for more than 100 years. On Whidbey Island, the organization has more than 11 years of proven success in creating positive friendships that benefit children, volunteers, families, schools and the community.

For years, dedicated tree decorators have created impeccably stylish trees, which bring a particular seasonal joy to the buyers for years to come. The Festival of Trees is a community celebration designed to brighten the holiday season while brightening the futures of children, organizers said.

All proceeds from the event go directly to children’s services.

To reserve your tickets, call Big Brother Big Sisters of Island County at 360-279-0644 or e-mail bbbs@whidbey.net.

Other Festival of Trees events include the public tree and wreath viewing from 1 to 3 p.m. the same day at the Useless Bay Golf & Country Club.