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It might not be a winter wonderland quite yet, but Lafayette Square in LaGrange is doing its best North Pole impression — minus Santa’s Workshop and snow.

The forest of trees that surround the Marquis de Lafayette fountain in the heart of Downtown LaGrange are part of the second annual Tinsel Trail, a fundraising campaign to support Circles of Troup County.

This year’s Tinsel Trail display features 67 live and expertly decorated Christmas trees in the downtown square, up 17 from last year’s display.

The fun, family-friendly fundraiser allows local businesses, non-profits, churches, civic groups and families to sponsor and decorate Christmas trees. The trees are normally decorated and themed ny the tree sponsor themselves.

Circles Director Sherri Brown says some companies don’t want to decorate a tree but would still like to help, so they sponsor a tree and allow another partner or supporter of Circles to decorate the tree.

The event is modeled after similar displays in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The tree decorating began on Friday morning will continue through Saturday. Tinsel Trail displays will be until the beginning of the year.

Circles is a local non-profit dedicated to helping people out of poverty. The group meets weekly to provide the tools to do so through mentorship, support, encouragement and education.

Circles teaches skills and financial literacy to those who are motivated to move out of poverty by connecting people who are financially struggling to partner with members of the community that can help guide them out of poverty.

The fun holiday display not only helps fund Circles, it brings people and their money to businesses in Downtown LaGrange.