Intermountain will celebrate its 21st year of kicking off the holiday season with the Festival of Trees this Wednesday through Sunday at the Helena Civic Center.

The weeklong festivities are made magical by the volunteers of the Helena community, who transform the Civic Center ballroom into a Christmas wonderland.

Maureen Maddio and Lesli Amundson, ballroom design chairwomen, will begin the transformation on today.

This year's theme, Music, Magic and Light, embodies this holiday celebration of magnificently decorated Christmas Trees and live entertainment.

This year's featured entertainment is the The Standards performing on Wednesday in the Civic Center Auditorium.

The a cappella group from Nashville will bring a new sound to the holiday favorites of the Music of Christmas Concert. Tickets are available for $20 through the Helena Civic Center Box Office.

The Clintons will play for the Jingle Bell Jam Dance on Saturday. The dance will include hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar. Tickets are available at Valley Bank, Mountain West Bank, Sugar Salon and the Independent Record for $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Intermountain is a nationally recognized Helena nonprofit organization specializing in nurturing, therapeutic environments for children under severe emotional distress. Counselors integrate relationship-based treatment and sound clinical discipline to assure a permanent family for every child.

Intermountain has been serving the needs of children and families since 1909.