NOTE (Tuesday, November 28, 2017): This post has been updated to correctly reflect the scheduled children's activities for this year's festival.

* * * * *

Newtown Youth & Family Services will once again benefit from a family-friendly event sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank.

The 32nd Annual Holiday Festival will take place Sunday, December 3, from 11 am until 4 pm.

Tickets are $12 per person or $25 for a family (two adults and two children), with each additional child $5 each.

Tickets will cover admission to the Festival of Trees, Holiday Tea, Historic House Tour, Nutcracker Suite ballet, Trolley Tours, and children's activities.

The festival will again incorporate a Gingerbread House Contest, with festival tickets offering admission to the display of entries; and poinsettia sales.

All events will be centered around Main Street, with activities taking place at C.H. Booth Library and Edmond Town Hall.

The will be at the library, 25 Main Street.Festival of Trees 2017

Every year local businesses, organizations, and families donate decorated trees, wreaths, and holiday decorations to the Festival of Trees. The trees are of various shapes and sizes, artificial, live, stuffed, ceramic, wood, and theme decorated.

NYFS is still seeking volunteers to participate in this event. Drop-off will be Saturday, December 2, between 9 am and 1 pm. Full details are available at the NYFS website.

Raffle tickets to win the tree of one's choice will be available during the festival from 11 am until 4 pm. Winners will be drawn at 4:15 pm, and winners do not need to be present to win.

According to the NYFS website, the theme for this year's Gingerbread Contest is "The North Pole." There will be categories for adults (age 18 and up) and youth (17 and under).

Entries are due at C.H. Booth Library on Saturday, December 2, between 9 am and 5 pm. Registration forms, however, are due by Thursday, November 30. They can be picked up at NYFS, 15 Berkshire Road, or downloaded from newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

Judging and announcement of winners will take place during the Holiday Festival by 3:30 that afternoon, and winners do not need to be present in order to win.

Houses are to remain on display until Tuesday, December 5, also according to the NYFS website.

Three private homes and one church will be open for the Historic House Tour.

The beautiful and historically rich homes that will be open for the Holiday Festival participants to tour on foot are a 64 Main Street, 5 Glover Avenue, and 30 Mt Pleasant Road. Trinity Episcopal Church, at 36 Main Street, will also be included on this year's tour. A local designer/team will take care of creating festive settings within each.

Ticket-holders will have the option of walking to each of the locations, or taking a shuttle that will also be included in festival tickets. The shuttle - which is separate from the trolley tours - will depart from and return to Newtown General Store, next to Edmond Town Hall.

The Holiday Tea, will feature live holiday music filling the air, the smell of mulled apple cider and tea, and freshly baked scones and tea breads being served in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall.

All ages are welcome, and each Holiday Festival ticket will cover one snack and one drink.

Live teapot centerpieces will be sold at the end of the afternoon.

Performances of Nutcracker Suite Ballet will be offered, also within the former town hall building, at noon and 2 pm.

Students of Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice will be the performers.

Holiday Festival tickets provide entry to the performances, or tickets for just the ballet can be purchased for $8 at the Edmond Town Hall box office that afternoon.

Children are invited to take a "train ride" on Polar Express, a child-size train that will run between the town hall and library buildings.

Tickets are $3 per child, and will be sold the afternoon of the festival in front of Edmond Town Hall; these tickets are separate from Holiday Festival tickets.

Trolley Tours, which debuted in the 2013 Holiday Festival, will also be back this year.

A tour guide will narrate each 30-minute tour, which will roll down Main Street.

The Historic Trolley Tours are first come, first served (seating is limited) and will depart from in front of Edmond Town Hall at 11:15, 12:15, 2, and 3.

Toyland Tea will be offered at Edmond Town Hall. The 60-minute event will begin at 11, and those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive in pajamas.

Guests will enjoy treats, a sing-along, visits with Rudolph and Mrs Claus, and photo opportunities with favorite holiday characters.

Holiday Festival tickets will be available to purchase during the festival. They can also be purchased in advance at local Newtown Savings Bank locations; C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; and Newtown Youth & Family Services, 15 Berkshire Road.

Proceeds from ticket sales, including the Festival of Trees raffle tickets, benefit NYFS.

Wine & Beer Tasting

On the eve of the Holiday Festival, another special event to benefit NYFS will also be conducted.

Making Spirits Bright Wine & Beer Tasting will take place Saturday, December 2, beginning at 6:30 pm, at Rock Ridge Country Club, 214 Sugar Street.

Tickets are $40 per person, $75 per couple, and include food, drinks, and holiday shopping. Partial proceeds from all wine sales that evening will additionally benefit NYFS.

NYFS is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Children & Families as an outpatient clinic for children, and by the Department of Public Health as a psychiatric outpatient clinic for adults and as a facility for the care or treatment of substance abuse or dependent persons. It is not a crisis center, but a place where residents across the greater Danbury area can participate in ongoing support groups, receive individualized counseling, or take part in any number of activities and events that are created for all ages.

NYFS is a nonprofit mental health clinic and youth service bureau. It is not a crisis center.

Additional information about anything related to the Holiday Festival can be obtained by calling 203-270-4335. information and tickets are also available at .newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org