Deciding on the best of all the Christmas trees was probably the hardest decision that newlywed couple Kedra and Christopher Williams had to make this weekend.

During the weekend getaway the couple decided to stop in at the Rome Area History Museum, which is currently hosting the annual Festival of Trees featuring many Christmas trees decorated by local garden clubs.

Inside the museum, Christopher enjoyed the more conservative and traditional look of one tree. Kedra thought a tree decked out with toys would be their child’s favorite tree.

“Out of all the ones I’ve seen so far, the ‘Joy to the World’ tree wins,” he said.

Before leaving the couple stopped for one last look at the trees in the front windows facing Broad Street, including the Townview Garden Club’s “Candy Land Christmas” tree, covered in red and white and evoking the taste of peppermint in the mouth just looking at it.

Kathy Donahue, who happened to walk out the door moments before, told the couple about the tree and the club and four stuffed polar bears that were used in the decorations.

When they brought her grandson down to look at the trees, Donahue said he enjoyed the bears most of all because the bears had been the same ones that greeted his father every Christmas morning.

“We’ve had these bears for 34 years, and every year we pull them out and put them around the tree,” she said. “This year, we thought we’d do something different and put them out here for everyone to enjoy.”

Museum visitors can decide which garden club has the best tree, and the museum is offering to host an event for free on the second floor, worth $750, for the garden club that receives the most votes. Museum executive director Leigh Barba said the museum will announce the winner during an event on Dec. 21 at 3 p.m.

Clubs who have trees on display this year include the Townview, Mountain View, Camellia, Thistle, Chattooga, Three Rivers, Four Seasons, and Spade & Trowel Garden clubs and the Rome African Violet Study Group.

Until the drawing, museum visitors can come look at the trees free of charge during the museum’s regular hours and cast one ballot per person per day.

“There’s a lot of really beautiful trees, they’re all so whimsical,” Barba said.

The museum will keep the trees on display until Jan. 5. For more information visit the Rome Area History Musuem website at www.romehistorymuseum.com or call 706-235-8051.