Third Day at the Festival of Trees

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Third Day. After our amazing performance as part of the Lighting of the Great Tree at Macy’s last week, we continued in the Christmas spirit by participating in another great Atlanta Christmas tradition. The Festival of Trees is a yearly event in which organizations set up and display Christmas trees which are then sold with the proceeds going to help local children’s charities. It’s a fun event for the whole family, and they even have carnival rides for the kids.

With us having just released our first Christmas album, this seemed the perfect event for Third Day to get involved in. All of the band members chipped in by donating drumsticks, bobble heads, CD’s, and even a Wherever You Are guitar. My wife and I then headed down to the Georgia World Congress Center to decorate the tree.

After an extended period of picking the “perfect” tree to use, we began to place lights on it. Then it came time for the big undertaking: figuring out how to get a guitar on the tree. We stood there and scratched our heads for about fifteen minutes, then an old friend came by and introduced himself. If you know much about Third Day history, you know that we once had a guitarist named August McCoy. Well, August’s brother Matt is an expert in the way of visual design, and was working at the festival this year. It was a total blessing running into Matt. He would look at the tree and say “Well, first you need a counterweight.” Then he’d walk off and five minutes later return with a big sandbag. So using Matt’s ingenuity, we were able to get the guitar attached successfully.

Once we got the guitar done, the tree almost decorated itself. We met some great people while we were there, and it ended up being a great experience.

If you live in Atlanta, come out to the Festival of Trees and see the “Third Day Rock and Roll Christmas Tree”. And if you feel so inclined, go ahead and buy it!

***For your pictorial pleasure, check out the photo album in the right sidebar.***

Comments

[laura nelly]

hola. pues solo quiero comentar que las letras de las canciones de Third Day; realmente han bendecido mi vida, me gusta mucho orar con esas canciones de fondo. en especial el album de Offerings. Dios los gurarde y haga prosèrar en todos syus caminos.
con amor: laura

[Sandi]

We loved the tree!! I want a bobble head!!

[cheri]

Mark,
I spoke with Marisa from Festival of Trees on Tuesday. She said you had inquired about how I had heard about the tree.
My children and I saw the tree on the blog. They have been asking for an electric guitar for Christmas, and they thought the tree was really cool.
I'm thankful to have been given the opportunity to help out a great cause such as Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.
Thanks to you, your wife, and the rest of the band for your time and effort in donating the tree.

[joanne]

that tree totally rocks! That guitar is one costco-sized christmas ornament!

[a-lay-nuh]

Whoa... I nearly drooled on my keyboard, I'm so dumbfounded by a guitar tree. That's cool! I stand in awe...

[Elaine Rosell]

Awesome tree! Saw some pictures on the message boards and appreciate the update here, Mark. Hope you and your families enjoy the wonders of the season. God bless Third Day!

Elaine

[Eliz]

Sweet pics. I looked out the window of the pic w/ David and saw white. Is that snow?

[Melanie]

It turned out wonderfully! If I were there and money was no object, I would definitely buy that tree. :)

[Jillaroo (Kara)]

Jhoanna? You're an Aussie!? I'll be down unda in 17 days!!! :D

[Mama Gomer]

Awesome tree. Now what it needs is a nice orangely decorated one next to it. ;) Do they auction the trees off, or do you buy them straight out? If they auction them, will you come back and tell us how much your tree made for the Cause? It's really beautiful.

[Wendy]

That is awesome! I should let you decorate my tree next year!! How fun that must be to attend.

Merry Christmas guys!

[Dawnifer Gomer]

I make cross stitch ornaments and would love to do some in a musical motif for the tree if you like! It looks awesome and that guitar is just off the hook! How many of those guitars get made up? I know one was being given away at the Ft. Myers show by Chevrolet (?). Hope all the joys and wonders of the season are with you guys! Thanks for updating Mark! It makes my day!

[Stephi]

That is one awesome tree

[Beth]

What a challenge to secure a guitar to a Christmas tree! The tree looks great. I've lived in Atlanta for 11 years and have never made it to the Festival of Trees. This would be a good year to go!

[Jhoanna]

Just wanted to say thanks so much for faithfully updating this blog - it's a privilege to be able to check in and see what my favourite band :-) is up to and how God is working through you and your music. Hope to see you all in my hometown, Melbourne (Australia) someday soon again - you guys rocked when you were here a few years ago :-). God bless.

[Jillaroo (Kara)]

Nice kitchen you're standing in David! :D

[MrsJason]

We're headed to Atlanta for the weekend. Maybe we'll check it out in person. :)

[Cebrina]

I love it! Our tree is decorated in blue and silver too... but it's not as "rockstar"ish as y'alls! Thanks for sharing the pics.