Tim and Jennifer Albro created the Eufaula Public Market (EPM) last summer on the south side of town at 701 S. Main St., across the street from Braum’s Ice Cream.

An array of food trucks park there to serve a variety of meals.

Recently, the Albros decided to serve a healthy helping of Christmas spirit to the community, creating a Christmas Trail of Trees.

Each of the 33 trees on the trail is sponsored and decorated by a different business.

The public is invited from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to walk the trail, where they will be awed by the colorful sites, and to visit with Santa and the Grinch, enjoy some hot chocolate and s’mores and to have their pictures taken. Also, treasure hunts and food trucks if you’re hungry.

And there is no toll charge to walk the trail and take part in the activities.

“This is our first annual Christmas Trail of Trees,” Albro said.

There are currently 33 trees, but there is always room for more.

“If you’re a local business, please come join us at EPM community of trees. It’s never too late. Our local businesses and businesses in the surrounding area have worked very hard on decorating the Christmas trees,” Albro said.

“They are beautiful, creative and fun! It’s open every Friday and Saturday in December.”

Watch for dates and times on Santa and The Grinch the Eufaula Public Market Facebook page.

After you have walked the trail, you are invited to go to the EPM Facebook page and vote for your favorite. Look for the caption “Happy Holidays.”

The winner of the best tree will be announced the first weekend in January.

Albro says she would like to see the festive events in Eufaula expand.

She noted that Oklahoma City has a number of small parks filled with decorated Christmas trees.

“I would like to grow it like that; make it a huge city event. We’re thinking about creating more things for people to come and see,” Albro said.

She sees the Christmas Tree Trail as an opportunity to bring out families to enjoy the decorated trees.

“We want to bring the businesses together, and the community,” Albro said.

Tree sponsors pay $75 for the event, which gives name recognition to the participating merchants.

“For $75 they get the tree to decorate, and I take care of it – water it, make sure it’s in good shape,” she said.

The response to the Christmas Trail of Trees has been amazing.

“We’ve been blown away by the people, the community,” Albro said.

They have also been almost blown away by recent high winds.

“The wind has been a little bit of a struggle,” she said.