You have to have a good game plan to win a championship. That's true in football.  It's also true at the Festival of Trees at the Bayfront Convention Center.  

I came to the convention center a few days before the festival began on November 24.  I arrived as entrants were beginning to decorate their trees. During the festival, each visitor will have one vote to cast for their favorite tree. I want to know the planning that has taken place by the decorators to make sure their tree will be the overall winner.  

Festival supporter, PNC, is entering a tree with a theme from the Dr. Seuss book, Oh The Places You'll Go.  Jenny Geertson, of PNC, told me her team’s strategy is to get the kids’ vote.

"We've got a lot of fun tie-ins to that you'll recognize from that famous book,” she said.

Getting the kids vote is not a bad strategy.  Decorators may say they are doing this for the charity the festival supports, but deep down, they want to win. Michelle Schrimper is the chief decorator of the PNC tree.

"I'm a very competitive person so it would be great if we would win.  But obviously we do it for the great cause of AHN and Children's Miracle Network.  So we follow that.  But obviously, bragging rights are always fun to have as well,” she said.  

Michele Maughn is decorating a tree for her employer, Voices for Independence. Her game plan is unique. Hers is the only tree that's upside down.

"I've always wanted to do an upside down tree and we work for the disability community.  So we came up with the name of Celebrate Abilitree, for ability. It's something different,” she said.  

Sarah Morrison is the marketing director for the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. It's her first year entering a tree for the EMTA.  She has scouted her opponents. She knows her tree will be an underdog entry.

"Well, the competition is something that is tough around here.  I've been taking a look around.  We're kind of more or less happy to be here and happy to get a little creativity out there with our tree,” she said. 

Chrissie Estok has been decorating trees for the festival for seven years.  This year, she's been hired to do the Erie Community Foundation Tree.

"Obviously, a lot of the decorators cater to the kids and what they would like. I can really appreciate that.  It's just not my style of decorating,” she said.  

If kids are the target, one tree I saw must be the favorite.  A Barbie tree that allows visitors to get their picture taken beside it.  I don't know what could beat that. Maybe a Taylor Swift tree?

The Festival of Trees will be open Friday until 8 p.m. at the Bayfront Convention Center.    Saturday's hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The winner of the Most Popular Tree will be announced on Monday.