Scrooge might have cringed at the pre-Thanksgiving holiday fervor. The young at heart, on the other hand, merrily waltzed through the Santa-tinged tableau in the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom on Friday.

Each year, the Trees of Hope gala, benefiting Star of Hope, challenges professional designers and artful amateurs to create enticing Christmas trees, holiday wreaths, Santas and other themed decorations. The strategy is to make the confections so irresistible that the bidding wars are hard fought and the money pours in. Proceeds support children's programs at the non-profit that serves the city's homeless population.

The scores and scores of tempting offerings on Friday had guests such as June and Virgil Waggoner, Paula and Jeff Paine, Stephanie and Julian Fertitta and Jo Ann Petersen trying to decide where to place their bids first. Would it be the life-sized toy reindeer or the Star Wars tree or the 8-foot tree decorated by the girls of a bientot, that fab fashion and faux jewelry shop on Westheimer?

The Trees of Hope possibilities were bountiful and original. Consider the completely jeweled, dazzling wreath by Paul-David Van Atta, Hilton director of catering. Most of the baubles came from the cache of Philamena Baird, who, eons ago owned a costume jewelry business.

The enthusiasm was welcomed by gala chairs Kelly Lubanko and Mary Rothwell and honorary chair Lynn Wyatt.

Don't let Wyatt's glamorous persona fool you. She has been a hands-on supporter of Star of Hope for almost two decades, having begun her involvement by providing both Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys (250 for each holiday) to the shelter for its homeless population. In the early days, she and husband Oscar Wyatt also donated two vans to the charity and Lynn even joined in the distribution of meals to the homeless.

The gala honored Kathy and Randy Tabor, Star of Hope president and CEO from 1990 until last October when he took the role of president emeritus.

Applauding the good works of the charity and grooving through the holiday landscape were Mark Rothwell, Stephen Lubanko, Charlotte Rothwell, Sherry and Jim Smith, Shannon and Boyd Smith, DeeDee and Wallis Marsh, Brian Teichman, Susie and Sanford Criner, Brad Wyatt, Soraya and Scott McClelland, Franelle Rogers, Ellie and Michael Francisco, Brian Teichman and Ileana and Michael Trevino.