Each year, more than 5,000 people attend its eight events, spread out over four days.

For many, it just wouldn't be Christmas without one of the Valle Monte parties.

Each year Silicon Valley designers vie for the chance to decorate a tree, while League members work to pile gifts below each one.

Most trees have at least $3,000 worth of gifts under them, and some trees have had as much as $20,000 worth. The ornaments alone on the trees are valued at $1,000 and up.

At the end of the week of events, the trees go home with the lucky raffle ticket holders.

This year, two of the dozen trees are by being done by Willow Glen designers. Marie Maxwell, owner of D'Annas Flowers and Gifts, is doing her seventh tree and The Nest owners Linda Dentone and Carolyn Arnold are doing their first tree.

Dentone and Arnold have titled their tree "A Winter Garden."

"It's a tree you would come upon if you were walking through the snow and discovered a beautiful decorated tree in the middle of the forest," Dentone says. "I see branches sparkling and silver and pine cones and icicles and birds."

Dentone is unsure of the exact number of ornaments that will be used on the tree, but says, "We have so many dozens and dozens and dozens."

Any leftovers will be sold at their shop at 1268 Lincoln Ave., which they opened in February of this year.

While the tree from The Nest will be won in the raffle drawing, Maxwell's tree is the only one that money can buy. The tree will be auctioned off at the Valle Monte League's Christmas Tree black tie grand ball.

Maxwell says "La Vie en Rose" is a tribute to her late mother, Rose D'Anna. She expects to put at least 125 ornaments on the tree, many from the Katherine's Collection line in whimsical shapes of purses and mannequins. There are also castles, wine bottles, mirrors, tassels dolls and roses.

A dozen strands of lights will also be put on the tree, along with garlands of fabric and ribbons in shades of mauve and antique gold.

Maxwell estimates it will take her about eight hours to decorate the tree for Valle Monte. She's doing a similar, but less ambitious one for her store at 1712 Meridian Ave.

Several other Silicon Valley designers are working on special trees as well.

Laura Moore, owner of Interior Services of Los Gatos with stores in downtown Campbell and Los Gatos, is doing one she's calling "Nutcracker Sweets" and promising that "everything on the tree will look sweet and edible."

Michelle Stojanovich of A Room With A View in Los Gatos is doing "Le Chocolat" with edible truffles as ornaments, as well as ones that look like real caramels and spun sugar.

Ginger Turnbull, owner of Interior Design by Ginger in Almaden, is working with Pam Whitgob on the tree they have titled "Magic of Enchantment."

It is the tree designed specifically for a children's party, with gifts for those ages 3 to 10 underneath the branches.

"This is a pretty sophisticated tree, but we wanted it real sparkly for the children," Turnbull says. "

"We're putting on 14 strands of lights and we have dozens and dozens and dozens of ornaments," she says. The ornaments include fairies, jesters and other whimsical figures.

Rose Garden resident Jill Lawther garnered the lion's share of attention in 2003 with her "Barbie Tree" featuring a dozen Barbie dolls she designed and made outfits for.

This year, Lawther's theme is "Christmas at Tiffany's." The decor is in Tiffany's signature blue color with every gift under the tree from Tiffany & Co.

The idea for the decorated Christmas trees came from a similar but less ambitious event in Southern California.

Members Enide Allison, Florence Barker and Betty Roffinella investigated the one down south 38 years ago, deciding to expand on the concept.

The first years were modest by today's standards, with trees and gifts in the $150 range and just two events, a tea and the ball.

Now there are two morning coffees, two afternoon teas, a children's party, a champagne brunch, an office party and the grand ball. Six of the events feature a fashion show produced by Macy's.

Tickets range from $35 for the children's party to $150 for the grand ball. Proceeds go to four local mental health agencies: Family & Children Services, John XXIII Multi-Service Center, The Centre for Living with Dying and Alzheimer's Activity Center.

To date, the League has raised more than $6.5 million for the charities.

Valle Monte League's Christmas Tree Elegance events are Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose. Tickets for the morning coffees and afternoon teas on Dec. 1 and 2 are $65. Tickets for the children's party Dec. 2 are $35. Tickets for the Nov. 30 champagne brunch are $85 and the holiday office party are $100. Tickets for the black tie grand ball Dec. 3 are $150. For additional information or reservations, call 408.278.8001.