December 11 Festival Celebrates Holidays in Norfolk

Sunday, December 11, is winter holiday festival time in Norfolk, where the town's merchants start celebrating at 10 a.m. with a day of extended store hours, dining specials, wreaths and trees, and special musical events.

Entertainment takes center stage at Infinity Music Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West (Route 44) the Whiffenpoofs will perform with the Quirks in a matinee starting at 1:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m. Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar appear in concert. In between, the choir from Church of Christ Congregational will be caroling at various stops along Station Place from 3:00 till 5:00 p.m. and “Lions Share,” sponsored by the Norfolk Lions Club, will play bluegrass music from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Country Store, 6 Station Place (where you can also take a pre-opening tour between noon and 5:00 p.m.).

And the shopping…. Shopping starts at 10:00 a.m. just off Route 44 on Station Place as the Artisan’s Guild opens with a colorful array of toys, clothes, ornaments, candles, jewelry, yarns and many other handmade wares from local artisans. In the same building, Joseph Stannard Antiques specializes in country French furnishings, while the Stannard barn across the way displays antique garden ornaments and contemporary furniture designed by the owner. And around the corner, at 18 Greenwoods Road West (Route 44), you’ll find antique silver, fine jewelry, gifts and collectibles at Sigma Design Studio; the shop is housed in a charming old bank building.

For those who like to benefit a worthy cause, the Susan B. Anthony Project will be in Norfolk selling holiday wreaths and the Norfolk/Colebrook Boy Scouts will be selling fresh Christmas trees, starting at 2:30 p.m. in front of the cafe.

And, yes, there is food for hungry shoppers, complete with specials, at Infinity Bistro (20 Greenwoods Road West), Wood Creek Bar & Grill (14 Greenwoods Road West) and Station Place Cafe (10 Station Place), which is extending its hours just for this holiday festival.

To sign up for a monthly newsletter on travel tips and events in Litchfield Hills visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Celebrate the Holiday Season @ Lockwood Mathews Mansion

On Sunday, December 11, 2016, 12-4  p.m. at 295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will collaborate with the Norwalk Public Library, New Canaan Dance Academy, Matthew Surapine Studio, and North Pole’s Santa Claus to create a festive event and several hours of entertainment for people of all ages.

Visitors will have an opportunity to view the exhibit, Holiday Splendor at the Mansion: Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations, enjoy music and dance surrounded by the glittering lights and beautiful displays throughout the first floor, and stop by the Mansion’s Café, featuring complimentary refreshments served by the Mansion’s costumed interpreters courtesy of Stew Leonard’s.

The event begins with a  Special Reading  from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome to the festively adorned Mansion Rotunda, where white and colored snowflakes will be the background for a special holiday reading offered by the Norwalk Public Library.

 At 12:30 Santa Claus with Reindeer  and his  loyal reindeer will make their way into the Music Room.  Santa will spend a full hour greeting children and hearing their Christmas wishes before they head back to the North Pole for their big night.

New Canaan Dance Academy  takes center stage from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.  This performance celebrates the Mansions 50^th Anniversary at the Holiday Open House with an exciting dance performance by New Canaan Dance Academy, one of the most dynamic and talented dance schools in Fairfield County. In September, NCDA students were chosen to be the Madison Square Garden back up dancers at the half -time show of the WNBA Liberty game with Laura Marano; they will also be performing at the NBA game on March 5, 2017. At the Holiday Open House, NCDA will be performing a mix of Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical dance performances. NCDA was founded in 2001 by Elaine Young.

Matthew Surapine Studio will  perform a selection of holiday favorites, ranging from classical masterpieces to music from the Great American Songbook from 3 pm to 3:45 pm.  Mr. Surapine, a nationally acclaimed opera singer who has been welcomed at major opera houses across the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera, to name a few, will see one of his students perform at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2017 as part of the All High School Voice Festival. 

For more information on schedules and programs please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.  To sign up for a monthly newsletter on travel tips for Fairfield County and Litchfield Hills visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com