The annual Dollhouse Festival in Provo is kind of like a miniature community: There has been a fire station, a ranch house and a flower shop. There was a Japanese pagoda, a Western general store and some stables. Now, there is even talk of a circus coming to town.

At this year's event, visitors can see more than 25 tiny houses on display, each hand-crafted by volunteers hoping to raise money for the Children's Justice Center (CJC) in Provo. The CJC, started in 1991, serves physically and sexually abused children by offering counseling and consolidating the interview processes that the children have to endure.

"These children have to go through so much," said Ruth Brasher, festival co-organizer and chair. "They have to re-tell their experiences to attorneys, social workers, judges -- and they just keep re-living the experience. The justice center minimizes the interviews and offers them support."

The CJC is a public-private entity, meaning that while state government takes care of staff payment, maintenance and upkeep of the CJC is entirely funded by community donations. And the Dollhouse Festival is a major fundraising effort for the center each year.

Festivities begin Thursday with a dinner and a silent auction, where hand-crafted items such as blankets and items to furnish the dollhouses are available. On Friday and Saturday, the public can view the intricate miniature dwellings at the Provo City Library at Academy Square. Here, patrons can bid on houses they want to purchase. Also on Saturday, organizers will host a Mad Hatter Tea Party for children with treats, games and storytelling.

Laura Blanchard, director of the CJC, said the 11th annual festival will help raise community awareness about the CJC's need for public donations and its mission.

"We hope the community becomes more aware of the center so if they run across someone that needs help, they'll know where to go," said Tricia Stoddard, who organizes the doll houses. "We also want them aware of how they can contribute. They may not contribute by donating a dollhouse, but anything helps -- time, money, donations."

And while the dollhouses take "hours and hours" to create, the payoff is rewarding, say staff members.

"It takes a little patience and creativity," Brasher said. "The creativity that comes through is really exciting."

Blanchard said her favorite part of the festival isn't always the dollhouses themselves.

"A part I truly love is that it's a celebration of childhood," she said. "Part of the goal is to be able to remember the children and their contribution to our society."

1Colleen Peterson

62, Orem, retired housewife

• Number of houses completed: 13

• This year's house: A red-and-white circus tent, complete with trapeze artists, elephants, acrobats, clowns and even a seal with a ball on its nose.

Peterson has built an array of interesting houses for the festival, including Victorian houses, a Western general store and stables, and a fairytale castle.

"We built a rock exterior house that opened both ways, making it easier for kids to reach," she said. "Oh, but we also made a Cinderella castle and that was pretty cute, too. And we made a three-level, round, turn-table Disney World," she said.

For Peterson, the hardest part of the process is finding the inspiration.

"Coming up with the ideas and trying to make it fit is sometimes challenging," she said. "Getting the inspiration -- you just have to pick things up as you come across them."

DeeAnn Davenport

70, Orem, retired housewife

• Number of houses completed: 30-40

• This year's houses: Two Barbie houses, and four smaller houses. Davenport is trying to find another Barbie house to transform into a Hannah Montana house.

For Davenport, Barbie houses are the best part of the festival.

"They didn't have Barbies when I was young. I'm 70 years old!" she said. "This gives me a chance to play with Barbies and arrange the furniture. I like to get coordinating furniture to look like it came from the same place."

Davenport got started in the festival when a friend was involved.

"A lady in my ward was working with them," she said, referring to her Latter-day Saint congregation. "I went to see what all the fuss was about and I was hooked!"

About 40 houses later, Davenport is still decorating and furnishing.

Tracy Allred

48, Orem, assistant manager of fabrication for BYU's Museum of Art

Lauren Allred

48, Orem, teacher's aide at Oak Canyon Jr. High

• Number of houses completed: 10

• This year's house: Tracy hopes to construct a house that, when folded, resembles a piece of furniture. When it unfolds, it will reveal a three-story house, complete with a garage and ramp.

In 2002, Tracy sat down and opened the box to start his dollhouse for the upcoming festival. As soon as he opened the box, the phone rang. His heart was ready, literally. Tracy, who had been on the heart transplant list for years put the dollhouse on hold. It was one of only two years he didn't participate in the festival.

"We didn't know what it was, when we first got started," Tracy said. "It was just something fun for Lauren and I to do together, where we could combine our efforts. It was so much fun to see the reactions of the people when they see your dollhouse."

After learning the purpose of the festival, the Allreds were hooked.

"We are just trying to give back," Tracy said. "People have been so generous with my transplant and things, and this gives us a chance to give something back."

If you go

Dollhouse Festival and Boutique

What: Hand-crafted dollhouses are on display and available for auction

When: Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Provo City Library, 500 N. University Ave.

Cost: Free to the public

Benefit Dinner

What: Annual benefit dinner catered by the Chef's Table restaurant in Orem

When: Thursday. Silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Provo City Library, 500 N. University Ave.

Cost: $100 per person

Mad Hatter Tea Party

What: Storytelling, games and treats for children. Wear your favorite hat!

When: Saturday, 2 p.m.

Where: Provo City Library, 500 N. University Ave.

Cost: $10 per ticket