A Guaranteed ‘White’ Christmas in Litchfield
Litchfield woke up to a fluffy white blanket of snow on the morning of Dec. 5, just in time for a festive holiday weekend at the White Memorial Conservation Center that unofficially serves as a prelude to the annual Litchfield Holiday Stroll.
Whether or not the snow hangs in until Christmas, the cluster of holiday events we highlight here will certainly have the seasonal magic of ‘White’ Memorial – and, thanks to serendipity, will also take place against the backdrop of a winter white landscape.
Sip and Shop, Dec. 6
White Memorial’s 2nd annual Sip and Shop event is back and bigger this year.
Guests are invited to stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 to shop in the gift shop while it is full of local, unique, and affordable items perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Amanda Surveski Wildlife Art, Stead Farm, RFarm-Local Organic Farm, Of Coins and Crystals, and Michael Shulde’s Woodturning will also be on hand, selling their local products.
Litchfield Distillery will be there sampling their tasty drinks, there will be cookies from Litchfield Catering and Deli, and more snacks curated by Gerri Griswold of White Memorial.
Oh, and here’s an insider’s tip: This event is where this season’s handcrafted trees created by Lukas Hyder, Executive Director of the White Memorial Foundation, will first become available. See the Litchfield Arts Council post for details.
Wreath Making, Dec. 7
White Memorial invites guests to make their own festive wreaths for the holiday season using local greens, cones, berries, birch bark, and ribbon, under the guidance of workshop instructor Jean Bronson, who has been making wreaths for over 30 years, and teaching wreath making workshops for 10 years.
The workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. is limited to 12 guests and spots appeared to remain open as of mid-afternoon Dec. 5.
The cost is $60 and all materials are included.
Register Here: Wreath Making Registration
Joy to the World: Holiday Music for Guitar and Mandolin
With Judy Handler and Mark Levesque, Dec. 7
The Conservation Center is hosting Judy and Mark Levesque for a holiday concert from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring enchanting instrumental renditions of traditional and contemporary holiday music, and a variety of lively tunes and lyrical melodies with an international flavor.
Judy and Mark play their own arrangements of beautiful, inspiring holiday music from many cultures on the guitar and mandolin, including music from the U.S., England, Ireland, Wales, Puerto Rico, Spain, Ukraine, songs of Hanukkah and themes from the Nutcracker. Some singalongs will be included on the program and a chance to join in on rhythm instruments.
Judy and Mark, who are married, are founding members of the New American Mandolin Ensemble, which formed in 2013, has performed internationally, and released a CD in 2017. They run a teaching studio for private lessons and groups in Vernon, CT as well as a recording studio for guitarists. Learn more on their website.
All tickets are $15. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required and can be done online: Joy to the World Registration
Litchfield Holiday Stroll, Dec. 8
The Litchfield Holiday Stroll takes place from 3-5 p.m. around the Litchfield Green on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Among the highlights are a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, a Plumb Hill Middle School Choral Performance at 4 p.m. in the Congregational Church, strolling carolers from Lakeview High School – R20, who will gather at Espresso59 at 4 p.m., and Litchfield Center School students performing in front of the holiday tree on the Green (shortly after 4:45 pm).
There will also be story time at Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance, Who-Ville ornament making at the Litchfield Historical Society, cookie decorating with the Girl Scouts at the Congregational Church, and hot chocolate with the Boy Scouts in the center of town.