Date: Fri 11-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Holiday-Festival

Full Text:

Festival Day In Newtown Brings Warm Weather, Crowds

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

The sun was out, the temperature was in the 70s, there wasn't a winter coat in

sight, and Newtown warmed to the occasion of its 13th Annual Holiday Festival.

Festival planners counted themselves lucky that dreary or hazardous weather

would not keep people away from the event. The weather was so nice, however,

it almost took away from the holiday spirit. While passersby were constantly

overhead remarking on the warmth of the day, it was easy to think about going

home and sipping on glasses of lemonade while sitting on a front porch instead

of unwrapping scarves and sipping hot cocoa in front of the fireplace.

But the crowds came to enjoy an antiques show at Edmond Town Hall, an arts and

crafts show at Newtown Middle School, and the Festival of Trees -- this year

in the gorgeous new community room of Booth library.

Visitors to Edmond Town Hall were also invited to relax on the building's

third floor, where the traditional Victorian Tea was held. The tea area is one

of two refreshment stops offered each year. The event in the Alexandria Room

offered mulled cider and tea selections, tea breads and scones.

At the middle school, visitors found refreshments at the New England Cafe.

Food this year was provided by Elizabeth's Tea Room, Epicurus Catering, My

Place Restaurant, and Anne's Red Brick Coffee House.

The festival also included the always-popular Holiday House Tour, with four

private residences as well as the Matthew Curtiss House and Trinity Church on

Main Street, and the offices of The Newtown Bee on Church Hill Road.

Continuing shuttle bus service all afternoon helped people move between

locations.

The festival has always been centered on Newtown's historic and picturesque

Main Street. The historic buildings -- Trinity Church, Newtown Meeting House,

Edmond Town Hall, Matthew Curtiss House, and others -- are all within walking

distance.

Sunday's warm weather induced people to spend more time walking between the

different festival locations. The opportunity was there to meander along

Church Hill Road, Queen Street, and even Glover Avenue, where all the homes

along those stretches were decorated for the season.

Those who were walking in the vicinity of the flagpole Sunday afternoon around

2 pm were treated to a special performance. While much of the musical

offerings this year were divided between the stage at the Alexandria Room of

Edmond Town Hall and at the meeting house, Newtown's Girl Scouts took their

performance outdoors.

Girls of all ages were invited to represent Girl Scouts on Sunday by caroling

in the vacant lot at West and Main streets. Nearly 100 girls showed up for the

event, and their voices carried a few doors down Main Street to the library,

and even up Main Street, at least as far as the Gold Building.

Music was a major component of the festival this year. In addition to the

public performances, each of the four homes on this year's house tour offered

musical interludes. Pianists, flutists, a classical guitarist, and a cellist

all provided background music for visitors during the afternoon.

Guitarist Peter Obre, a lifelong Newtown resident, had a full itinerary this

year. After performing for the brunch crowd at Mary Hawley Inn on Main Street,

Mr Obre moved his equipment to the Alexandria Room, where he was on the list

of performers to entertain those visiting the Victorian Tea. After that

performance, he joined cellist Christopher Thibdeau, flutist Lydia Lanzatta,

and violinist Clare Beams, performing at the residence of Craig and Laurie

Madaus.

Santa Claus is always expected to make an appearance or two at the festival,

and he did indeed show up again this year, delighting the children who were

participating in the children's workshop at the middle school.

Young volunteers took care of even younger charges, with activities that

ranged from cookie decorating, games, storytelling, making paper chains, and

Christmas tree and candy cane decorating. Santa was set up in a comfortable

chair in the workshop's main entryway, greeting children and their parents all

afternoon.

Doreen Kelleher, one of the committee members for the festival, arrived at the

middle school to help with the children's workshop at 3 pm Sunday. Already,

things were looking good for the committee, which turns over proceeds of the

annual event to the Family Counseling Center of Newtown every year.

"It's an amazing year," she said. "We sold well over 1,000 tickets before this

morning, and we're still selling tickets at 3 pm.

"It's crazy, but people are really enjoying it."

Some people enjoyed the day so much that they are already looking forward to

next year. A small sign was posted at the ticket booth at the middle school

that announced the 14th Annual Holiday Festival will return to Newtown on

Sunday, December 5, 1999.