OTTUMWA — Cooler weather makes a mug of hot tea, tasty treats and beautiful evergreens sound like comfort and fun.

The Festival of Trees committee certainly hopes a lot of people like that idea because Ottumwa Habitat for Humanity will present its 16th annual Festival of Trees at Pennsylvania Place in less than six weeks.

The three day-event will open at 7 p.m. Nov. 21, with a reception “in the Forest of Trees” and end with tree pick-up at 3 p.m. Nov. 23.

The festival is the primary fundraiser for Ottumwa Habitat for Humanity and all proceeds will support the building or renovation of affordable housing.

“Habitat chooses families in need of good housing and works with them to create their new home,” said Judy Engle, Festival of Trees coordinator.

Once completed, the home is sold to the family at no profit and no interest. Engle said Habitat for Humanity isn’t a give-away project.

“It’s people helping people,” she said.

To make this fundraiser happen, numerous volunteers are needed for various jobs.

“We need lots of volunteers to decorate wreaths and trees and to make craft items,” Engle said.

Engle said the decorations have ranged from a jewelry tree, or a gambling tree, to a snowman tree. Some people have even decorated according to a theme, such as “The Wizard of Oz.”

People can decorate as many trees as they like and any age can decorate.

“This is a fun event that’s a good cause,” Engle said. “If you’re not creative, you can donate money and have someone decorate a tree for you in your name.

Something new is on the schedule and it involves that hot mug of tea.

“We’ll also need hostesses, or hosts, to serve at tables during ‘A Home for The Holidays Tea,’ which will be 2-4 p.m. Nov. 22 at Pennsylvania Place,” Engle said.

Tables can be for four or six people, maybe even eight, according to Engle. For a table of four, a person could donate $40 and buy a table and four tickets. They could invite friends or make the table and tickets a Christmas or birthday gift.