For over 15 years, Bill and Lisa Westphal, owners of Westphal Jewelers in Easton, have donated a custom designed necklace for the annual Festival of Trees.

This year’s necklace, an 18-karat white gold, peach tourmaline and diamond necklace, designed by Bill Westphal, is valued at $4,500, and will be raffled off at the end of the festival, with tickets costing a mere $100. Only 100 tickets will be sold, with all proceeds benefiting the Talbot Hospice Foundation, the sole beneficiary of all funds raised by the Festival of Trees.

The necklace contains a 3.63 carat emerald-cut genuine peach tourmaline, cut by David Brackna, a multiple American Gem Trade Association “Cutting Edge Award” winner, as well as 18 fine, full-cut diamonds, weighing .43 carats. The necklace is currently on display at Westphal Jewelers, located at 19 N. Harrison St. in Easton, and the drawing will take place on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Crystal Room of the Tidewater Inn.

In its 24th year, Festival of Trees has been continually successful in raising funds for the Talbot Hospice Foundation, generating around 15 percent of the foundation’s yearly operating budget. The funds help to provide home care for terminally ill patients, medical supplies, bereavement services, Pre-Hospice Pathways for those ineligible for Hospice and a six-bed guest wing in Hospice House.

The Festival will take place from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, and includes a preview party, Christmas shop, run/walk for Hospice, daddy/daughter dances, mother/son dances, a tour of local homes decorated for the holidays, Christmas bingo and a silent and live auction. As always, the various Christmas trees decorated by volunteers will be on display throughout the Festival in the Crystal Room of the Tidewater Inn.

The schedule for the event is as follows:
• Tuesday, Oct. 27:
o 5:00 p.m.—Crab Claw Dinner, St. Michaels
• Monday, Nov. 23:
o 5:30 p.m.—Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag, silent and live auction at Krystal Q, located at the intersection of Airport and Technology
• Friday, Nov. 27:
o 10 a.m.—Run/Walk for Hospice at the YMCA in Easton
o 8:30 p.m.—Preview Party in the Crystal Room at the Tidewater Inn
• Saturday, Nov. 28:
o 10 a.m.—Candy Cane Lane, featuring various children’s activities, at the Waterfowl Building on Harrison Street
o 10 a.m.—Homes Tour in Easton
o 5 and 8 p.m.—Daddy/Daughter Dances at the Elks Lodge on Dutchman’s Lane
o 5 and 8 p.m.—Mother/Son Dances at the Historical Society Auditorium on Washington Street
• Sunday, Nov. 29:
o 10 a.m.—Homes Tour in Easton
o 2 p.m.—Christmas Bingo at the William Hill Manor Auditorium on Dutchman’s Lane
o drives
• Tuesday, Dec. 1:
o 6 p.m.—Raffle for the white gold, peach tourmaline and diamond necklace at the Crystal Room of the Tidewater Inn

For information on purchasing tickets for the Westphal raffle or other Festival of Trees events, visit www.talbothospice.org or call the festival’s hotline at 819-3378.