The annual “Season of Light” exhibit, designed by DeLynn Medina, features a colorful Mardi Gras theme this year. Medina and her sister, Lauri Anderson, created 30 Mardi Gras masks that can be found tucked in with colorful strands of beads on several of the trees.

Near the Mardi Gras trees is a sign explaining the history of Mardi Gras.

“Mardi Gras is a holiday, just like Christmas and Easter,” the sign notes. “Mardi Gras refers to events of the Carnival celebration. Carnival season always begins on January 6th, which is the Feast of the Epiphany, beginning on or after the 12th day of Christmas, and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.”

In addition to the Mardi Gras trees, 21 Christmas trees are on display in the “Community of Trees” gallery. Each tree was decorated by an area nonprofit agency to showcase the mission of their organization and the services they provide to the community throughout the year.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Tina Schultz, Besser Museum admininstrative assistant, stands next to the Ancient Rome tree, decorated by Julie Austin, in the “Trees of Nations” exhibit.

Museum visitors will also enjoy a stroll through the decorated “Avenue of Shops” exhibit and the “Trees of Nations” exhibit. The “Trees of Nations” exhibit displays multicultural tree-trimming traditions from around the world. The exhibit, set by Thunder Bay Arts Council members, features new informational signage with larger lettering so it’s easier to read about each country.

“It takes three weeks to decorate, and three days to take it down,” said Tina Schultz, Besser Museum guest services and administrative assistant, referring to the entire “Season of Light.” “We closed for 19 days, and then, on the 20th, we did the opening gala for the ‘Season of Light.’ We have really dedicated volunteers.”

She can’t say enough about how much work and creativity Medina put into the exhibit.

“I don’t know how they come up with fresh ideas every year,” Schultz said of Medina and Besser Museum Executive Director Christine Witulski.

Schultz noted that each tree in the “Trees of Nations” exhibit is new to the museum. The decorations might look familiar, but the trees themselves were donated.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a Mardi Gras red dress tree by exhibit designer DeLynn Medina.

“When they closed The Alpena Mall, they offered us all of these trees,” Schultz said. “So, they donated them. What makes that nice is that now all these trees are a uniform size.”

Visitors to the museum on Wednesday were amazed with the beautiful trees, admiring all the details of each uniquely decorated tree.

Dolores Papp traveled from Glennie with a group of women who said the trip was part of her birthday celebration. Today is her 96th birthday.

“I enjoy looking at all the trees,” she said while she strolled through the “Community of Trees” gallery. “I like to see all the different work that people do. It’s amazing, isn’t it? A lot of hard work.”

She was impressed with the Mardi Gras portion as well.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above, colorful Mardi Gras trees welcome visitors to the museum.

“The ones down the hall that look like ladies’ dresses,” Papp said. “That’s so pretty.”

Candice Carter is another one of the women in the Glennie group, called the Lilley-McDougall Scholarship Organization.

“We take trips and do crafts and work on the scholarship committee,” Carter said. “Every month we try to get out and do something, and this is something we’ve all wanted to see.”

She was delighted with the exhibits.

“I’m just very impressed, and my favorite in the Mardi Gras portion are the trees that are dresses,” Carter said. “It’s unbelievable. Really, really nice. The creativity is amazing.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a tree decorated in red tulips, by Alpena Area Parkinson’s Support Group.

Carter and friends Pat McDougall and Sandy Portrey were so glad they drove up from Glennie to see the display.

“It’s beautiful,” Portrey said. “I love it. This is my first time. It’s worth the trip.”

The “Season of Light” exhibit is sponsored in part by the Alpena Power Company.

Besser Museum, located at 491 Johnson St. in Alpena, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday. Planetarium shows are available Wednesday through Saturday. The museum is closed to the public on Sunday and Tuesday. For more information, call 989-356-2202 or visit bessermuseum.org.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley A snowy white tree is decorated with photo ornaments featuring flora and fauna found in the Thunder Bay River Watershed, by Thunder Bay River Center Board.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley At left is a “WOOF” tree decorated by Second Chance Animal Shelter in Alpena.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a tree decorated in in blue and silver, by St. Vincent dePaul.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Here is a red and white tree by Sunrise Mission.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a tree decorated by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alpena.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a tree decorated by Thunder Bay Audubon Society.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Above is a tree by the Alpena Horseman's Club.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Here is a new, larger and easier to read sign in the "Trees of Nations" exhibit.