After years of debate, the city’s beloved tradition of cutting, mounting and leaving to decay hundreds of small trees each year is ending. Mayor Bob Donchez announced Aug. 21 a long-term fundraising plan that has already begun stockpiling artificial trees with low-cost LED lights to glitter up our downtowns during the Christmas season. Donchez said the city has brainstormed and planned with the Chamber of Commerce, Air Products and Spillman Farmer Architects since March, and the result is a Christmas Trellis.

The trellis itself will consist of simple 10-foot-square rigging erected in Payrow Plaza each year. But upon it will hang hundreds of personalized decorations, each emblazoned with a name and message from its owner, and the proceeds from which will go directly toward purchasing artificial trees.

The ornamental keepsakes will change in design each year. This year they’re chimes, and the smaller model costs $50 and allows an engraved name and one line of text. The larger costs $100 and allows two lines. But there’s only enough space for 250 ornaments on the trellis, and nearly half have already been sold. Ornaments purchased by Oct. 1 will likely be included when the trellis goes up Oct. 27. When it comes down Jan. 10, ornaments can be retrieved from the Chamber by their owners.

Bethlehem Chamber Senior Vice President Lynn Collins Cunningham said it costs the Chamber alone $20,000 each year to purchase the live trees, and Donchez agreed the change will save the city a lot of time and money in the long run, up to an estimated 60 percent in labor alone.

Collins Cunningham said major donations to the Chamber’s Citizen’s Christmas Committee currently account for about $35,000 of the $80,000 needed for all the trees, each of which costs about $100 and has a lifespan of about 10 years. Funds from successive annual Christmas Trellises will be used to maintain and replace damaged or failing artificial trees in years to come.

For more information, email emilyk@lehighvalleychamber.org or call 484-280-3024.