2025 Tree – The Carver and Turner Circus
The 2025 theme for our tree is an old fashioned, Big Top Circus. The Rochester Woodcarvers were again joined by the Zumbro Valley Woodtruners in creating handmade, wooden decorations for the Festival of Trees. Since they made the tree, the circus is named after them.
In place of a tree skirt, there is a red and white circus tent. Circus folks, clowns, animals, wagons and banners surround the tent’s perimeter. There are even a couple of kids (and their dog) peaking under the tent. As one of the banners claims, it is the Greatest Show in Rochester.
Along with the Ring Master on the top, there are over 150 ornaments filling the tree. Winding around the tree branches is a garland of ornaments forming a circus parade.
The circus tent is designed to be used in either of two fashions. In addition to having the tree come up from the tent’s center, there is a substitute center pole provided. This allows the tent to be displayed separately from the tree.
A wonderful photo album of the tree and the decorating team in action has been created by Tom. Here is the link to it. >> PHOTOS <<
After the tree selections during the Running of the Trees, the Rochester Athletic Club is the proud owner of the Circus tree. Here are a few shots from the RAC.
Back story about the 2025 tree . . . (PDF version including photos)
For the Carver and Turner Circus, Gary Berg has carved the Ticket Seller and the Ring Master to immortalize them. Gary also revealed the story of their background.
“In the early days of the Carvers and Turners circus, Lena Overoski, gave birth to Siamese twins. After a brief affair, Lena had been abandoned by the father, Omar Spragge, who had been traveling with a band of Hungarian Gypsies.
Fortunately, Lena, who was the bearded lady in the circus, had a close relationship with Hans Schicklegruber, the sword swallower. Hans was able to separate the twins and allow them to lead a nearly normal existence. Stub and Stretch chose the circus life, which had been the bastion of the Overoski family for decades. Stub, who attended the Wharton School of Circus Finance, handled the ticket sales, and Stretch attended the prestigious, Slick’s Auctioneering School, specializing in promotional items. The boys, along with their mother Lena, were able to promote the circus as “The Greatest Show on Earth”, which they now have on display at The Festival of Trees.”