Newtown traditionally spends the first weekend of December celebrating the holidays, and 2023 will be no different. The tree lighting ceremony will begin Saturday, many organizations will host special fundraisers, and the Newtown Holiday Festival will return on Sunday, Dec. 3.
Below is a list of holiday-related activities scheduled for this weekend.See our community calendar For listing regular meetings and other special events.
Friday, December 1st
ship’n shop5-9 p.m., Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson St., General Admission $25, VIP $45 (early admission, signature cocktails, food/appetizers, door prizes), shopping with vendors, wine and Beer tasting, food, music and more; 203-270-4349.
Sandy Hook Christmas Tree (Other) Sale, 6 to 9 p.m., Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Headquarters, 18-20 Riverside Road, where you can purchase Christmas trees, wreaths, pine ropes, cemetery boxes and more. It is presented by the fire company and is provided as a benefit to the fire department. Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 24 or while supplies last. 203-270-4392, SandyHookFire.com.
(Please check this out for details: SHVFR planning tree sales, sleigh rides)
Postponed: Lamb Meadow Tree Lighting6:30 p.m., Lamb Meadows Due to predicted inclement weather, this event has been postponed to December 8th.
Saturday, December 2nd
63rd Annual Newtown Rotary Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon, Edmond Town Hall (Alexandria Room), 45 Main St., $10 for adults, $5 for children, all-you-can-eat breakfast includes pancakes prepared by Rotary members, Butcher’s Best sausage, Maple Craft Foods syrup, B.D. It is included. We provide coffee, milk, juice and hot chocolate. newtownctrotary.org.
(Please check this out for details: Rotary Pancake Breakfast returns Dec. 2 at Edmond City Hall)
Vegetable and gift sale9 a.m. to noon, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown’s Garden Club’s annual holiday sale once again offers fresh hand-decorated wreaths, boxwood, centerpieces and more. Masu.
Sandy Hook Christmas Tree (Other) Sale9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 1, for additional details.
CH Booth Library Friends Holiday Sale, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH Booth Library (meeting room), 25 Main Street, gift-quality books, jewelry, stocking stuffers, toys, jigsaw puzzles, media, and other gift items for all ages; Proceeds will be donated to the CH booth. The library event continues until December 3rd. boothbooksale.org.
Newtown Family Treasure Hunt, starts at 2 p.m., Newtown Youth & Family Services, $25 per team, teams of up to six people travel around town finding clues and completing tasks while winning prizes, Provided by Newtown Youth & Family Services Compete for fundraising activities. 203-270-4335, newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org/Special-Events.
Christmas Celebration: The Singing Principal and Carol Sing, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, children’s program with Singing Principals (3:30-4:20, reservations required), followed by in the sanctuary. Carols (4:30-5:30, all ages, no reservations required) Everyone is then invited to bundle up and walk down the hill to Sandy Hook Center for the tree lighting at 6 p.m. 203-426-9998, churchoffice@newtown-umc.org, numc.us.
2023 Sandy Hook Center Tree Lighting, 4pm to 6:30pm, Sandy Hook Center, a business district centered around the intersection of Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road, activities begin at 4 p.m., Santa Visitation and karaoke begins at 5 p.m. The tree at the corner of Washington Avenue and Riverside Road will be lit at 6 p.m., followed by carols. Non-perishable food donations are requested to the FAITH Food Pantry sponsored by the Sandy Hook Prosperity Organization (each donor will be entered into a drawing to light the tree). sandyhookvillage.com.
(Please check this out for details: Tree illuminations that decorate the holiday season)
Sunday, December 3rd
Sandy Hook Christmas Tree (Other) Sale9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 1. See additional details.
drop-in holiday button, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., CH Booth Library (chbMakers’ Corner), 25 Main Street, All ages are invited to learn how to push holiday-themed buttons during the ongoing event. 203-426-4533.
38th New Town Holiday Festival, will be held along Main Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. An annual holiday event for all ages, including the Festival of Trees, historic home tours, and holiday tea. nutcracker suite Fundraisers by Newtown Youth and Family Services will include performances, an outdoor holiday market, Cookies with Mrs. Claus, a family magic show, a history trolley tour and more. 203-270-4335, newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.
CH Booth Library Friends Holiday Sale11 a.m. to 5 p.m., December 2 for additional details.
nutcracker suite Artist: Newtown Center of Classical Ballet & Voice, performances at noon and 2 p.m., Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St., tickets are $15 each for the performance only, or $15-20 for the entire Newtown Holiday Festival (see separate listing for details). ), special holiday performances by NCCB students are suitable for: All ages; 203-270-4335, newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.
(Please check this out for details: NCCB presents two performances of “The Nutcracker Suite” on Edmond Town Hall Stage)
Newtown Historical Society Holiday Open House, 12-4 p.m., Matthew Curtis House, 44 Main Street, Free, The Historical Society’s headquarters are decorated in traditional style and warm cider will be served by the fireplace. Donations to the Historical Society are welcomed. 203-426-5937, newtownhistory.org.
(Please check this out for details: Holiday Open House & Member Party at Matthew Curtis House)
drop-in bead wreath ornament, 2-4 p.m., CH Booth Library (chbMakers Corner), all ages are invited to learn how to make wreath ornaments and all materials will be provided. 203-426-4533.
“Holiday Season Song” 4 p.m., Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St., $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, Holiday concert by the Newtown Choral Society includes African, Danish and Irish songs, seasonal traditional songs and “Red Includes a jazz interpretation of “Rudolph.” Bassist Amber Harris and guest percussionists Howard Schuster and Jason Voegeli also joined in on “The Nosed Reindeer” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” 203-313-3064.
(Please check this out for details: Choral Society performs “Holiday Season Songs”)
Shortly after the two trees at Sandy Hook Center were lit for the first time in 2022, people began walking between the two trees at Sandy Hook Center between Washington Avenue. Sandy Hook will have the honor of hosting its first tree lighting event this year on Saturday, December 2nd.photograph
One of the entries for last year’s Holiday Festival Gingerbread Competition. —bee file photo
Garden Club of Newtown member Janet Dervent helped Gillian Kluwi with last year’s Garden Club of Newtown Greens Sale. The event will be held again this weekend at Newtown Congregational Church. —bee file photo
Grinch ornaments peek out from the tree the DeBlasi family decorated for last year’s Holiday Festival – Festival of Trees. The Holiday Festival returns on Sunday, while the Festival of Trees takes place on Saturday. —bee file photo