Hometown Holidays 2012
If anyone has an event during the holiday Season and they would like to advertise here, please email information to sdickinson@tristatechamber.com. Thank you.
Tree Lightings and Special Events in the Area
Amenia, NY
Saturday, December 8 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The Town of Amenia and the Amenia Fire Company invite residents and neighbors to participate in Amenia’s Holiday of Lights festival on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012.
Starting at 2:30, volunteers are welcome to meet at Fountain Square (M&T Bank) to help the Town’s Enhancement Committee put final decorations on East Main Street Christmas trees. Troop 29 Cub Scouts welcome volunteers of all ages to help finish decorating the Amenia Town Hall Gym. Bring an ornament from home to decorate the trees or help make traditional decorations. At 3:00, local students will perform dance exhibitions. Live music, a duet by James Wheeler and Abigail Hoke; crafts and coloring tables as well as historical exhibits.
At 4:00 p.m., floats, bikes or other lighted vehicles will line up at the Amenia Firehouse, 36 Mechanic Street, to join Amenia’s first Holiday of Lights Parade. At 5 p.m., the parade will step off, with Santa aboard a lighted firetruck, go through town, ending at Amenia’s Town Hall, 4988 Route 22. Santa’s new workshop will be next to the gym for presents and photos (courtesy of the Lion’s Club), sample homemade treats and refreshments from local restaurants, warm themselves at the bonfire, ice skate at the basketball court or sled down the hillside.
The festivities conclude at 6:30 pm with a Tree Lighting ceremony at the large spruce trees in front of Town Hall planted in memory of the Proper girls, the announcement of Citizen of the Year awards by Supervisor Bill Flood, caroling, and free raffle prizes from local businesses and restaurants will be given out to the lucky winners. The grand prize this year is a $50 American Express Prepaid Card from Bank of Millbrook. For more information, contact Councilwoman Vicki Doyle at (845) 789-1051 or vdoyle@ameniany.gov.
Millerton, NY
Friday, November 23 at 6 p.m.
The Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. at Arnoff Moving and Storage on Route 22, then comes up Main Street, ending at the firehouse. There will be a party at the Millerton Firehouse on Century Boulevard afterward, and everyone is invited! Santa Claus will be in attendance at the party, and there will be treats to sample.
From noon to midnight, in the village, will be the first Millerton Holiday Festival. Maps and Solo cups will be provided at all participating businesses, including North East Community Center, Oblong Books and Music, 52 Main and No. 9. There will be caroling, apple bobbing, face painting and Santa Claus at the Gazebo on the Village Green, Mrs. Claus reading stories, live manger at Copper Star Alpaca, food, drinks and more. Pizza and children’s movies at the NECC. Suggested donation of $5 to benefit North East Community Center and Adopt-A-Family. Children are free. For more info, go to www.millertonholidayfestival.com.
Falls Village, CT
Saturday, December 1, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Live music by Nancy Carey Johnson will lead into the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides will deliver Santa Claus to the festivities in the Parade of Lights. Wreath building during the day will provide wreaths for Main Street for the holiday season. 5:45 to 7 p.m., the party at the senior center where Santa Claus will have gifts and an ear for all with wishes to share.
Kent, CT
Saturday, December 1 at 4 p.m.
Photos with Santa Claus at N.M. Watson Wild Bird Supply, 1 Kent Green Blvd (bring your own camera). Tree Lighting on the Kent Green at 4:30 p.m. Then Santa will lead everyone to the Fife ‘n Drum restaurant for carol singing, cookies and hot cocoa. Santa will then shepherd participants to the Tree Lighting at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Lakeville, CT
Sunday, December 2 from 3 to 7 p.m.
At the Lakeville Hose Company on Route 44/Main Street. Hot cocoa, cider, coffee, cookies, and of course, Santa Claus from 3 to 5 p.m.! Tree Lighting will be at 5:30 p.m, caroling with the Salisbury Band Christmas Brass and Hot Chocolate Society. Immediately following will be the Parade of Lights. New this year: The Steven Dunn Band will perform during the event. Cookies for kids of all ages to decorate and bring home as well as ornaments to make. Every child that brings a nonperishable food item will be able to enter into a FREE drawing for a holiday stocking filled with toys.Sponsored by the Tri-State Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeville Hose Company.
Lime Rock, CT
Saturday, December 1 at 4 p.m.
Second annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Lime Rock Village. It will be at the corner of Route 112 and Dugway Rd., at Trinity Church, join in to drink hot chocolate, sing carols and see the tree alight.
Millbrook, NY
Friday, December 7 at 6 p.m.
Parade of Lights, Tree Lighting, Franklin Avenue. Santa Claus will be in attendance, with decorated floats from businesses and organizations in town, as well as decorated firetrucks from throughout the Tri-state area. Santa will take a ride in the parade to the tree lighting, right after the parade. For information, to be in the parade or share ideas, call Brian Hicks at 845-677-5837.
Sunday, December 9 at 4 p.m.
Lighting of the Millbrook Menorah, the lawn of the Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue. Following the lighting, there will be singing and serving of hot latkes, hot apple cider and doughnuts at Grace Church’s Parish Hall on Franklin Avenue. The lighting is sponsored by the Millbrook Chanukah Committee. For information, call 845-677-0190.
North Canaan, CT
Sunday, November 25 at 5 p.m.
5th annual Holiday Lighting, Parade of Lights. Bragg Street/Pease Street to Railroad Street, over to Lawrence Field where the lighting of the Town Holiday Lights will happen. Holiday songs, caroling and a visit with Santa Claus, along with the North Canaan Elementary School Band under the Pavilion. Refreshments. For information, call 860-248-1345.
Pine Plains, NY
Saturday, November 24 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Decorating Day, center of Pine Plains, at 3 p.m. followed by the Parade of Lights, 5 p.m.
Sharon, CT
Saturday, December 1 at 3 p.m.
Open House before the tree lighting, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit with Santa Claus! The Jolly Elf will arrive with the help of the Sharon Volunteer Fire Department. There will be cider & cookies for all. For information, call 860-364-5041, or go to www.hotchkisslibrary.org.
The Sharon Historical Society and the Sharon Green Preservation Association will host the Sharon Town Tree Lighting and Carol sing, beginning on the Green at 4:30. Music provided by the Salisbury Brass Band and Hot Chocolate Society.
Following the tree lighting, all are invited to attend the Sharon Historical Society’s “Holiday Cookie Party” for home made cookies and hot chocolate (a great opportunity to warm up!), beautiful decorations and two exhibits. For information, call 860-364-5688 or email sharonhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS EVENTS
Amenia, NY
Sunday, December 2 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The Amenia Free Library will hold its 22nd Annual Holiday Open House. Traditional Wassail and holiday cookies will be served. This is a thank you for the community for their support of the library all year. Santa will not be appearing at the library, but rather at the Festival of Lights celebration at the Town Hall on Saturday, Dec. 8.
Cornwall
Saturday, December 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Christmas Fair of the United Church of Christ in Cornwall, 8 Bolton Hill Road; Crafts by local artists, paintings and silkscreened scarves, greeting cards, children’s gift room, cakes and cookies. Wreaths and sprays may be purchased at the door or ordered in advance from Bobbie Tyson at 860-672-6762. Hot lunch of sandwiches, soup and entries from the chili and apple pie contests will be served.
Falls Village
Saturday, December 1, 11:30 a.m., snow date December 2:
The Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society will offer a Holiday Historic House Tour. The tour will begin with a welcome and introduction to the five houses on the tour at P.D. Walsh’s Country Store (107 Main St.) at 11 a.m. The tour coincides with the village’s annual tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. and visit from Santa Claus later in the day. D.M. Hunt Library will have a book sale from 2 to 4 p.m.
Kent
Continuing through December:
Skating is offered at the Kent School ice rink on Route 341. A park pass is required. Passes can be purchased at the Park and Recreation office at Town Hall or at the rink during skating times. For more information and scheduling, go to www.kentctparkandrecreation.com.
Millerton, NY
In Progress through the season:
Adopt-A-Family to benefit children and adults in need in the Millerton, Amenia and Pine Plains area - send donations to P.O. Box 880, Millerton, New York 12546. 324 children served in 2009. For more info call Stacey Moore at 518-789-4508.
Salisbury
Friday, November 23 from 1:15 to 3 p.m.
Annual Family Skating Party at the Salisbury School Flood Rink, Route 44. Donation $2 children/$3 adults to benefit Habitat for Humanity. For more info, go to www.habitatnwct.org.
Saturday, November 24 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
“You’ve Got Mail” Auction of artist-decorated mailboxes stuffed with gift certificates to benefit Habitat for Humanity. For more info, go to www.habitatnwct.org.
Sunday, December 2 at 2:30 p.m.
A Christmas Concert: Charpentier’s Christmas Cantata, Vocal and Bell choirs, Christine Gevert, organ; Albert Sly, conductor. Salisbury Congregational Church, Main Street.
Now showing through Saturday, December 1 (Gala Event, Dec. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.)
Festival of Trees The small trees, wreaths and centerpieces have been hand-decorated for the holiday season by area residents, merchants and organizations. Visitors can bid on the individual trees, decorations and gift baskets in a silent auction throughout the festival. Noble Horizons, 17 Cobble Road; open to the public daily, free of charge. This festival raises money to enhance the lives of Noble Horizons residents. For more information, call Joanne Moore at 860-435-9851 ext. 154.
Saturday, December 8 at 7 p.m.
Annual Victorian Christmas Concert sponsored by the Salisbury Association at The Academy Building, 24 Main Street; Tickets are $20 and include a Victorian dessert buffet. Seating is limited. Call 860-435-0566 to reserve seats.
Saturday, December 1 from 8 to 11 a.m.
Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s Ski and Skate Swap. This year’s sale will be at the Lakeville Hose Company’s firehouse on Route 44/Main Street. Bring used equipment to sell on Friday, Nov. 30, between 4 and 7 p.m. No equipment will be accepted on Saturday. The sale on Saturday will run from 8 to 11 a.m. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Salisbury Central School’s downhill ski program. Check SWSA’s website at www.jumpfest.org for more details.
Local Artisans from around the Tri-State region will once again be displaying and selling their wares for Salisbury’s Hometown Holidays weekend. The Seventh Annual Artisans Sale will be held at a new location, “The Warehouse”, on Brook St, behind the New Lakeville Firehouse.
The location allows the show to coincide with other Hometown Holiday
events for a true Community Spirit filled with hands on workshops for
kids and adults, the Salisbury Central 8th Grade Fundraising Bake Sale
and the Sharon Woman's Club annual chair raffle to benefit HVRS
students.
An Opening Reception will be held on Friday November 30, from 4pm – 7pm with libations and tasty treats made by the Artisans. A
$10 donation will benefit OWL’s Kitchen and also the very special
Community Volunteers, the men and women of the Lakeville Hose Company.
The
Artisans Sale will open on Saturday, December 1, from 9 am – 4pm, the
SWSA Ski Swap also takes place on that morning from 8 am – 11 am in the
front section of the Firehouse.
On Sunday, December 2, the
day of the traditional Tree Lighting, Carol Sing, Light Parade and
Santa’s visit at the Firehouse, the Artisans Sale will be open 10 am – 6
pm. Starting at 12noon until 5 pm, there will be hands-on crafting for
Kids and adults with workshops on Cinnamon Orange & Bay leaf
Garlands and Cloved Orange Pomanders.
The second weekend of the show, Saturday and Sunday, December 8 & 9, 10 am – 4 pm, will also feature various “Hands On Workshops” as well as Artisans demonstrating their crafts.
There will be several workshops offered by Noreen Driscoll Breslauer of Sweethaven Farm in Salisbury. Participants
can craft their own indoor or outdoor wreaths and table and mantle
garlands from a variety of materials, including, lemon leaves, boxwood,
seeded eucalyptus, cedar and pine, decorated with traditional pine
cones, or pomegranates, berries, lotus and okra pods and much more. Other
local Artisans, Jocelyn Krodman, the creator of Petit Felts finger
puppets, will share her felting talents with a workshop on Felted
Snowmen Ornaments, and Jen Markow, of Strings and Stones from Cornwall
will be teaching a workshop on Felted Pouches.
Space is limited and Pre-registration for all classes is necessary. For a full workshop schedule check out www.artisansale.org Call Sweethaven Farm at (860) 824-5765 or email info@sweethavenfarmct.com for more information about these holiday happenings.
Noreen Driscoll
Sweethaven Farm
860-309-7132 cell
Sharon
In Progress
Sunday in the Country Food Drive – send checks to WHDD, 67 Main St. Sharon, CT 06069– to provide over 500 Christmas dinners.
