In His Own Words
Since 2009, photographer Jeff Hurst has been taking pictures of almost every Gingerbread House at Fantasy of Trees. Read his story to find out how he began this annual holiday project.
I first discovered the Fantasy of Trees back in the mid 80s. I loved that my mom and aunt had always transformed their homes with Christmas beauty and joy, so fond memories had made me curious.
I was living near UT and actually walked to the show. As soon as I entered I was in awe. It was like an explosion of magic and I couldn't believe the sheer scale of everything! Dark like a winter's night inside with endless color and Christmas lights. I wandered a bit and couldn't believe they had a full size carousel inside! I watched a few stage performances and passed booths of kids crafts and little shops selling treasures... but then I saw the Gingerbread Houses!
It was like an enormous Christmas Village but all hand made! After a few moments of standing stunned I took a closer look. The variety was astounding. Some looked like artist's sculptures and others looked like small kids had made them with joy. There were individual houses, village scenes, room settings and pop-culture icons. There were Humble Cottages, Grand Mansions, and Enchanted Castles. The more I looked the more detail I saw, but always you could tell that every gumdrop, cookie, and swirl of icing had been put there in hopes of bringing a smile, a warmth, and a bit of wonder to the world. I must have spent an hour adoring the little Gingerbread world and that day's joy has never left me.
I came back every year I possibly could as a wonderful start to the Christmas season, until I joined the ARMY back in 1990. I was away from home for 8 years and couldn't attend, but once I was stationed in Germany I discovered their Christmas Markets and the world's first year-round Christmas store Kathe Wohlfahrt's in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. They reminded me joyously of the Fantasy of Trees, but they had nothing like that Gingerbread Village!
After my Army time I was finally back home to Knoxville and was able to look forward to the show again! My wife Sachiko and I began bringing my daughter Samantha and she loved best the carousel and the crafts. Then in 2009 I had finally gotten a camera that could take pictures in lower light. I asked Sachiko if I could try taking a few Gingerbread House pictures while Samantha was busy doing her crafts. 30 minutes later I had taken a picture of EVERY Gingerbread House! When we got home I put all those pictures on our computer and set them to all display as a slideshow. That began a tradition. Every year they'd head straight for the crafts while I shot the village, and then we'd all enjoy the slide show throughout the Christmas Season. The tradition got broken in 2015 when I deployed with the TN Air National Guard during the holidays and I missed a few years, but in 2019 I came back and my daughter has since volunteered in some of the same craft booths she used to love. By then I'd discovered Facebook and started sharing my pictures there to hopefully bring some joy to Family and Friends.
Looking back on it I think my favorite part of Fantasy of Trees has been the sense of Wonder, and the amazement at all the work the artisans, performers, organizers and volunteers do just to bring some Joy and help Children's Hospital! I keep taking the pictures because I'm amazed at the tiny details I notice later, and because it lets me capture a little Christmas Magic and bring it home. The Christmas lights have changed to LEDs, the rides and activities have changed a bit, and the event displays have grown grander with technology and imagination, but the heart has stayed true.
I think that everyone who participates in Fantasy of Trees is doing a Wonderful thing! Whether you Donate, Volunteer, Perform, or just Enjoy, you're helping create an annual Christmas Miracle, while helping Children's Hospital do their miracles.
Coming together with Beauty and Joy to help Children. Remembering that there's Love and Caring in the world. Making new family memories, and being warmed by the glow of memories past. That's the real Fantasy of Trees.
