Holiday Festival - And Major Fundraiser - For NYFS Will Return On December 7

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Nov 21, 2008 12:00 am

Holiday Festival â And Major Fundraiser â For NYFS

Will Return On December 7

The 2008 Newtown Holiday Festival will be held Sunday, December 7, from 11 am to 5 pm. Â The entire festival this year will be situated on Main Street.

The event will offer tours of four historic Main Street homes, a gingerbread house contest, photos with Santa, a crafts workshop, The Festival of Trees, Victorian Tea, a Holiday Boutique and a Holiday Fair, performances of Nutcracker Suite, performances of an original play, and the annual service of Lessons & Carols at Trinity Church.

Admission to most events will be by ticket.

âWe at Newtown Youth & Family Services recognize the Holiday Festival is as much a Newtown community event as it is a fundraiser for our organization,â said Layne Lescault, chairman of the 23rd Annual Holiday Festival. Â âFor this reason, and in realization of the tough economic time weâre in today, we have reduced our ticket prices for the festival.â

A single adult admission will be only $15 this year compared to $25 last year. Â A family ticket is also available for $25, which covers one adult and up to four children under the age of 12 and permits entry to the houses, ballet, play, and tea and a scone at the Victorian Tea. Admission to the holiday crafts is free, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

The homes on the walking tour will be decorated for the festival. Decorators will include Linda Manna of Newtown Country Mill, Louise Nevis of Floralium, Women Involved in Newtown, and Truly Yours LLC.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, will host two Holiday Festival events, with one event being given a new presentation this year.

The Festival of Trees will actually go on display on Saturday, December 6, and will remain on view through the duration of Sundayâs activities as well. Raffle tickets will be sold both days with the winners announced between 4:30 and 5.

Winners do not need to be present to win, but they must be able to pick up their items between 5 and 7 Sunday night or between 10 am and noon on Monday, December 8.

Also at the library will be The Gingerbread House Contest, which will be set up in Childrenâs Department. Entries will be placed by noon, and visitors will be encouraged to vote all afternoon. Winners will be announced at 5.

Edmond Town Hall, at 45 Main Street, will host the remainder of activities.

There will be two performances by Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company, who will continue its annual tradition of Nutcracker Suite in the town hall theater. Performance times are 12 and 1:30. Admission for this event is either through a full Holiday Festival ticket or can be paid for at the town hall box office ($5).

The theater will also host a pair of performances of âTwas, an original play, at 4 and 5:30 pm. Newtown High School senior Cristin Carlin has written and will direct an upbeat musical about the magic and spirit of Christmas. The cast will feature Newtown Middle School students. Admission for this is either with a Holiday Festival ticket or a $5 ticket purchased during the festival.

Family fun will be located in the gym of Edmond Town Hall and will include a professional storyteller (at 12 and 3) and holiday crafts for children.

Professional photographer Cindy McIntyre will also be on hand in the gymnasium to take pictures with Santa. Â These will be professional 5x7 pictures, with Ms McIntyre providing Santaâs chair, drapes and even a North Pole backdrop. There will be a charge of $10 per picture, to fully benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services.

The Mary Hawley Room at the town hall will host a small Holiday Boutique noon to 5:30 including a raffle of donated items as well as items for sale. And upstairs in The Alexandria Room, the Victorian Tea, which will be serving fresh baked breads, cookies and scones to complement hot tea, will be running from 11 to 4.

Tickets will be available beginning next week at C.H. Booth Library; Drug Center Pharmacy, 61 Church Hill Road; Our Green House, 4 Washington Avenue; and Newtown Savings Bank locations. Tickets will also be available on the day of the festival.

For additional information call Newtown Youth & Family Services, 270-4335 extension 303.

Patricia Anzellotti

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Holiday Festival - And Major Fundraiser - For NYFS Will Return On December 7

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