MARSHALL — The Lyon County Museum always gets an early start on the holiday season.

The museum is decorated in 2023 with 26 Christmas trees assembled by Marshall businesses and organizations. Everyone selects a theme that reflects the holiday spirit.

Lyon County Museum collections manager Paul Evanson said this year’s total is a record number for the annual tree walks.

“We have about as many as we can handle this year,” Evanson said. “If we get any at the last minute we’ll have a find a place to put them. We used all of our trees. There was plenty of interest this year.”

The Christmas Tree Walk will be in place throughout December. Voting for favorite trees starts on Saturday and continues until New Year’s.

Visitors vote by putting any amount of money they choose into boxes located next to each tree. Winners will be the trees that generate the most money. The top three entries will receive Marshall bucks prizes.

All remaining proceeds will go toward museum operations. The tree walk is one of the museum’s most important fundraisers. It coincides with the annual Holiday Home Tour held on the first Sunday in December.

Museum staff start the tree walk before Thanksgiving in order to allow plenty of time for everyone to visit the museum, see the trees, and vote for favorites.

“As soon as we finish our Halloween activities, we go right into Christmas,” said Lyon County Museum Executive Director Jennifer Andries. “We put up the trees and give the organizations plenty of time to get them decorated. It’s a popular annual tradition.”

She said the trees are an attraction that helps to create strong holiday season turnouts. Visitors in 2023 will also have an opportunity to see the new Vietnam era Veteran’s Wall exhibit and a 1940s exhibit in the Heritage Room, both of which opened this fall.

Some organizations participate in the tree walk every year. The Shades of the Past Car Club is the defending champion. The list has included Marshall’s three senior citizens housing centers; Boulder Estates, Heritage Pointe and Hill Street Place.

Senior citizen residents work with staff to come up with tree concepts and to make or obtain ornaments. They enjoy being creative.

Boulder Estates Tenant Services Director Monica Amaya said residents look forward to the tree walk each year. It’s one of the things that helps to get everyone into the spirit of the holiday season.

“It’s a great way to support the museum,” Amaya said. “It’s also a good chance for residents to use their talents. They like working together to create a tree that the public will enjoy.”