Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Those who have yet to experience the spirit of Christmas 2023 need only to visit the Johnson Center for the Arts on East Walnut Street in downtown Troy,

The upper gallery is “alive” with beautifully and creatively decorated Christmas trees by students in the local schools.

Andrea Pack, JCA director, said the trees have been decorated by students in the Troy City Schools, middle and elementary, Pike Liberal Arts School, Pike County Elementary School and Pike County Home School Cooperative.

The opportunity to decorate Christmas trees with handmade items challenges the students to decorate trees to celebrate the season but not in a way the “comes” from a store.

It’s fun to see what themes the students have chosen and how creatively they have decorated the Christmas tree using that theme, Pack said.

“The students Christmas Trees are on display now and those who visit the JCA will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite tree. The tree that receives the most votes will receive $100 for the art class at their school.

The JCA invites parents and other relatives and friends of the students to come by, enjoy all the Christmas trees and vote for their favorite.”

Johnson Center hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.