The annual Holiday Festival, which traditionally takes place along Main Street the first Sunday of December, will look very different this year. The 35th annual event will include a series of virtual, at-home, and socially distant activities taking place over the course of December 6-12.

Registration, which raises funds for Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS), is open at newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

NYFS, also the producer of the festival, is a nonprofit youth service bureau and mental health clinic for children, teens, adults, and seniors. The proceeds received from the festival fund autism programs, various community programs, and mental health services.

The Holiday Festival staff and planning committee have put together a festival the community can participate in from the comfort of their own homes or while safely distancing. They have transformed favorites from the traditional event and have come up with new and exciting experiences.

Event Details

Registration and additional information is available from NYFS at 203-270-4335 or info@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org, or on their website.

The Festival of Trees is returning, and the community can participate in a few different ways.

Donations of a decorated tree, wreath, or centerpiece are currently being sought.

The public can then participate in the event next month by visiting and bidding on the donated items in person at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, on Sunday, December 6, between 10 am and 6 pm, and/or Sunday, December 12, between 9 am and 2 pm.

The trees, wreaths, etc., will also be available for viewing and bidding online this year.

Raffle tickets will be sold during the live events. Details on virtual participation and bidding are available on the NYFS website.

New for 2020 are Elf Chats — Live from the North Pole. Children of all ages can have a personalized 10-minute video chat with an elf in Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole.

During their personalized scheduled Elf Chat, children will get to see the toy their elf friend is working on, find out what it’s like to help Santa get ready for Christmas, ask questions, read a story, etc.

Various times are available throughout the week of the festival.

This year’s festival marks the debut of The Merrymakers — Carol-O-Grams.

Spread some holiday cheer and send a small group of carolers to brighten the day of a friend or family member, or schedule a visit for yourself.

The Merrymakers is a group of 6 to 8 carolers who will safely distance — 12 feet apart — and wear masks while singing three non-denominational songs.

Various times are available through the week.

While immediate family members of performers will be the only ones allowed to view the live performance of The Nutcracker Suite by students of Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice, the rest of our community can still enjoy the show.

Those who offer a donation of any amount to NYFS will receive a link to view a recording of the December 6 performance.

Also new this year is the Road To Disney Scavenger Hunt. The grand prize is five one-day hopper Disney World tickets.

Gather your “quaranteam” and embark on a scavenger hunt. The hunt starts at 1 pm on Sunday, December 6, with teams departing from and returning to NYFS on Berkshire Road. The contest will take participants to eight different locations within Newtown and Sandy Hook.

Cost is $5 per team, which is one carload.

The Edible Creations Competition is back for the second year.

Sugar cubes, gumdrops, marshmallows, graham crackers, and more… this is more than just gingerbread. The public can participate by building an edible creation and/or voting for their favorites.

Photos of entries will be posted on social media during the festival, and the community can vote for their favorite one.

Local businesses like Castle Hill Chocolates, BD Provisions, and Nutmeg Olive Oil are donating stockings and baskets filled with goodies for the Secret Stocking Silent Auction.

This is not your average secret stocking event. Bidders will know who put together each offering, and will get a preview of what each includes, but the rest will remain a mystery.

The silent auction will be conducted done online the week of the festival.

There will also be an Elf on the Shelf Competition via social media where residents can show off the crazy antics their elf is up to, virtual Bedtime Stories with Santa at 7 pm on Monday, December 7, and Thursday, December 10, and Letters to Santa.

Children are invited to drop their letters off at The Toy Tree, 14 Church Hill Road, through December 18. Santa will respond with a personalized letter.

The Holiday Festival is the area’s longest-running holiday event and is the largest annual fundraiser for NYFS. Support from the community and longstanding sponsors like Newtown Savings Bank, the festival’s platinum sponsor, make the Holiday Festival possible.