Holiday Weekend Events

 

Newtown traditionally spends the first weekend in December celebrating the holidays, and 2011 is no different. Three separate tree lightings are planned, a number of groups are hosting special fundraisers, and the 26th Annual Newtown Holiday Festival returns on Sunday, December 4.

The following is a listing of holiday related activities planned for this weekend. See the Community Calendar on page A-2 for the listing of meetings and other special events.

Friday, December 2

27th Annual Newtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6:30 pm, Ram Pasture, Elm Drive at Hawley Lane, caroling, lighting of town’s Christmas tree, also visits with Santa and Mrs Claus, light refreshments.

You Can Never Have Enough Christmas: A Unique Boutique gala opening, 6:30–10 pm, St Rose of Lima Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, $5 (tonight only, free admission remainder of weekend), wine, appetizers and desserts, first chance to shop annual boutique with jewelry, toys, tabletop treasures, toys, advent wreaths and calendars, angels and nativities, Santa figures, gifts for teachers and friends, Candy Cane Café and more, event continues to Sunday; 203-426-1014.

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Holiday Market, 6–9 pm, 1 Jacklin Road, adults only on Friday for wine and artisanal cheese tastings, shopping opportunities, all ages welcome for Saturday (see separate listing); 203-364-1113.

 

Saturday, December 3

51st Newtown Rotary Club Pancake Day, 8 am–1 pm, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, $7 adults, $3 ages 10 and under, all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausages and beverages, also performances by Lathrop School of Dance team (11, 11:30 am, noon, and 12:30 pm) and Amber Alert ID cards (first card free, addtional cards $2); 203-426-8870.

VNA Christmas Boutique, 9 am–noon, VNA Thrift Shop at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street (use lower rear entrance), Christmas gifts and holiday decorations, regular offerings of clothing, small home accessories and other items also available; 203-270-4377.

Christmas Greens Sale, 9 am–1 pm, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, fundraiser by The Garden Club of Newtown offers decorated wreaths, swags, table arrangements, and other seasonal decorations; 203-270-1108.

Holiday Book Sale, 9:30 am–5 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, gift-quality gently-used books, CDs and DVDs sold by Friends of Booth Library, proceeds benefit the library, event continues December 4; 203-426-4533.

Festival of Trees, 9:30 am–5 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, raffle of dozens of tabletop trees, wreaths, swags and other decorative accessories, event is part of Holiday Festival (see December 4 listing) but Festival ticket is not needed for this one location; 203-270-4335, 203-426-5859.

You Can Never Have Enough Christmas: A Unique Boutique continues, 9:30 am–7 pm, St Rose of Lima Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Road, free admission, boutique offers jewelry, toys, tabletop treasures, toys, advent wreaths and calendars, angels and nativities, Santa figures, gifts for teachers and friends, Candy Cane Café and more, event continues to Sunday; 203-426-1014.

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Holiday Market Family Day, 10 am–3 pm, 1 Jacklin Road, Newtown, free admission, handcrafted and nature-inspired gifts, refreshments, puppet show, jump rope making, Pocket Man, and Bittersweet Café; 203-364-1113.

Sandy Hook Village Festival and Tree Lighting, festivities begin at 4 pm, tree lighting at 6:30, businesses in Sandy Hook Center (Church Hill Road at Washington Avenue at Riverside Road at Glen Road) will host special events including food pantry drop-off, refreshments, caroling, karate demonstrations, wine tasting, Newtown Middle School Carolers, and much more.

Newtown Choral Society Winter Concert, 7:30 pm, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, $10, $8 seniors and students, nonauditioned choir directed by Mary Andreotta will perform Randall Thompson’s The Nativity According to St Luke, also holiday songs from Puerto Rico, Africa, and Nigeria, with accompaniment by Susan Klein-Anthony; 203-426-3769.

Sunday, December 4

You Can Never Have Enough Christmas: A Unique Boutique (final day), 8 am–1:30 pm, St Rose of Lima Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Road, free admission, boutique offers jewelry, toys, tabletop treasures, toys, advent wreaths and calendars, angels and nativities, Santa figures, gifts for teachers and friends, Candy Cane Café and more; 203-426-1014.

Holiday Book Sale continues, 11 am–4 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, see Saturday’s details; 203-426-4533.

The 26th Annual Holiday Festival To Benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services, 11 am–5 pm, Main Street, $15, $30/family (2 adults and 2 children, additional children $5 each), ongoing events at C.H. Booth Library (CHB) and Edmond Town Hall (ETH) including Festival of Trees (CHB), Gingerbread House Contest (CHB), Teddy Bear Tea (ETH), free throw contest (ETH), live music (ETH), Nutcracker ballet performances (ETH), staged readings by Stray Kats Theatre (ETH), walking tours of Main Street with Town Historian Dan Cruson, and more, proceeds benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services; 203-270-4335.

Advent Lessons and Carols, 2 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, annual service with origins dating back to 1918 England offers Advent scripture readings interspersed with carols, all welcome; 203-426-9070.

Hawleyville Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Toy Collection, 5:30 pm, outside Hawleyville Post Office, 23 Barnabas Road, live music by Billy Michaels and Wendy Mitchell, refreshments, caroling, visits with Santa and Mrs Claus, attendees asked to bring wrapped gift or toy for The Newtown Fund (labeled for age and gender); 203-748-4239, 203-730-6377.