Newtown's Big Holiday Weekend
Newtownâs Big Holiday Weekend
The first weekend in December has traditionally become one of the busiest in Newtown. Thanksgiving has passed and it is time to look toward the final season of celebrations.
The weekend will open with the Garden Club of Newtownâs Annual Greens Sale â the club decided last year to make it a two-day event â and will continue almost nonstop until late Sunday afternoon when the 19th Annual Holiday Festival concludes. Between these two events are plenty of choices for residents and friends of all ages.
Friday, December 3
*Garden Club of Newtown Annual Greens Sale will run from 2 to 8 pm at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, and continues on Saturday from 9 am until 1 pm or all items sell out (which happens regularly). The sale of decorated wreaths in many styles and themes also include garlands, wall hangings, jellies, etc, all created by garden club members. There will be a raffle for a pair of handmade rose hip wreaths and a few other special items.
*5th Annual You Can Never Have Enough Christmas Boutique continues, 6 to 10 pm, in St Rose Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Road. Admission on Friday is $5, which grants shoppers admission into the special wine and cheese and live music evening. The sale offers collectibles, holiday decorations and ornaments, wreaths, gifts for teachers and friends, unique treasures, and raffles, and continues on Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm (free admission all weekend).
*20th Annual Newtown Tree Lighting Ceremony will start at 6:30 pm at Ram Pasture. The tree lighting at 7 will be preceded by caroling, hot chocolate, and donuts. Santa and Mrs Claus will be visiting after tree is lit.
*Holiday Memories continues this weekend at The Little Theatre, on Orchard Hill Road, tickets $15. The Town Players will present Truman Capoteâs The Thanksgiving Visitor and A Christmas Memory (stage versions by Russell Vandenbroucke) tonight and tomorrow at 8, and tomorrow and Sunday afternoons at 2. Tickets are $15 for the evenings, $12 for the matinees. Call 270-9144 for reservations.
Saturday, December 4
*44th Annual Newtown Rotary Pancake Day returns to Edmond Town Hallâs Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, from 8 am until 1 pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 ages 10 and under, and the breakfast of unlimited pancakes, sausage, applesauce, and beverages is served up by Rotary Club of Newtown members.
*Fraser-Woods School will host its âWinter Wonderland for Childrenâ workshop from 10 am to noon just outside the childrenâs department entrance at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street (the event will move indoors if the weather is lousy). All children are invited to join Fraser Woods parents and students in creating icicle and snowflake ornaments for the pine tree outside childrenâs department.
*St Johnâs Farmersâ Market will offer a special holiday edition of its popular Organic Café. The event will run from 10 am to 4:30 pm at St Johnâs Episcopal Church, 5 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook. Organic food (sandwiches, muffins, and other treats) and artisans who participated in 2004 Organic Farmersâ Market season will return for the one-day event.
*The Danbury-based Hat City Music Theatre is offering two performances of Hansel & Gretel at Newtown High School. Tickets for the 3 and 7:30 pm shows run $10 to $25, and can be purchased at the door. The production of Humperdinckâs family opera will include vocalists from Aspen Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, and Los Angeles Opera, plus instrumentalists from Metropolitan Opera and Broadway. Call 746-2694.
*The Sandy Hook Tree Lighting Ceremony will be in The Glen at Sandy Hook, at the intersection of Church Hill Road at Washington Avenue, in Sandy Hook, from 5 to 6 pm. All are invited for karaoke caroling and visits with Auntie Claus. The tree lighting will be shortly after 6 pm.
Sunday, December 5
*The 19th Annual Newtown Holiday Festival opens at 10 with events at Edmond Town Hall, Newtown High School, Trinity Church, and private homes on and near Main Street. Tickets are $25 for adults in advance ($28 day of festival), $23 seniors for students and children in advance ($25 day of).
The festival will continue until 5 pm.
The festival offers an arts and crafts show and sale, antiques show and sale, New England Café and NE Café Too!, Victorian Tea Room, live music, Ideas Homes, Festival of Trees and more, ballet performances, family workshop, and free shuttle bus service between the locations. Call Family Counseling Center, 426-8103, for details.