THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 13, 2026 Page 3 Let the holiday celebrations begin! The mEG Foundation’s 16th Annual Festival of Trees begins its first of two weekends of holiday spirit today By Mark E. Vogler C hristmas is still six weeks away. But the holiday spirit has been escalating for several weeks now at the historic MEG Foundation Building at 54-58 Essex St., where the foundation has been preparing for its 16th Annual Festival of Trees, which gets underway today (Friday, Nov. 13) and runs from 3 to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow. The MEG will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The main events are the Christmas Trees and the Christmas baskets, for which visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win. The festival is a major fund-raising event for the foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the Marleah E. Graves Building and honoring its legacy through cultural, educational, and civic programs that benefit the Saugus community. But it’s also become a huge family event that kickstarts the holiday season, with special attractions for the children. Santa Claus will be visiting the festival tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 14) and again on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. both days. This year, there will be anFIRE DEPARTMENT LEGEND REMEMBERED: This photo of the late Saugus Fire Lt. Damian “Jug” Drella sits on a small table near the tree honoring him. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) other special guest that will get the kids excited. “Spider Man is coming to town – for the first time,” MEG Foundation President Janice Jarosz said this week. “The kids are crazy about Spider Man. They love this guy. And he will be flying in on Nov. 14 (Saturday) from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Nov. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. We even have a Spider Man Christmas tree,” she said. The event will feature live entertainment, refreshments served by Mrs. Claus and special accommodations for young children while their parents are checking out the Christmas trees. “We have a room for children’s crafts while they are waiting to see Santa. There will be a big room A TRIBUTE TREE: This white Christmas Tree, decorated in red and dedicated to the late Saugus Fire Lt. Damian “Jug” Drella, can be viewed and is also one of the trees that can be won with a raffle ticket at The MEG Foundation’s 16th Annual Festival of Trees, which begins today (Friday, Nov. 13) at the MEG Building (54-58 Essex St. in Saugus). (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) upstairs dedicated to Santa Claus,” Jarosz said. One of the highlights among the various trees that will be on display is a white tree decorated with red ornaments – some of them with a firefighter’s theme. Instead of having a FESTIVAL OF TREES | SEE PAGE 5 NEW BRANCH. EXCLUSIVE RATE. MORE FOR YOU. Earn 4.75% APY* with our exclusive 7-month CD! Available only at our new Medford branch. Visit us at 501 High Street to take advantage of this special offer. New money only. We make it easy. Because here, easy means more. This is a new-money-only offer. A HALLOWEEN XMAS TREE: Town Hall employees pose near this spooky Christmas Tree – one of several dozen that will be on display in The MEG Building during The MEG Foundation’s 16th Annual Festival of Trees, which begins today. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net
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