Date: Fri 13-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Holiday-Festival-Family-Life

Full Text:

with photos: Bad Weather Gives Way To A Sunny Holiday Festival

Despite a thick covering of snow, which blanketed Newtown Saturday night, the

sun came out Sunday morning and the temperature quickly began to rise,

enticing more than 1,200 persons to attend The Family Life Center's 11th

Annual Holiday Festival.

"The (festival) committee did a wonderful job," said Family Life Center

Director Judy Benson. "The people who came to the festival had a wonderful

time - but you had to be able to get out of your driveway to attend."

Attendance was down from last year's peak of 1,800, largely because of the

snow storm, which left parts of Newtown without electricity. Even festival

participants were affected. Joe Peieragostini, owner of Elizabeth's Tea Room

on South Main Street, said that preparing the food to be sold at the

festival's New England Cafe was a challenge because the power didn't come back

on at his restaurant until nearly 11:30 am.

Although the final figures haven't been computed, it is believed the festival

netted about $26,000, just short of the $28,000 that had been budgeted and

down from $31,000 last year.

The festival featured a walking tour of historic homes and buildings in the

Main Street area and an antiques show in the gymnasium of Edmond Town Hall and

a Victorian tea room, with live musical entertainment, upstairs in the

Alexandria Room.

Children were entertained at the Children's Workshop at the middle school

while their parents participated in the festival activities which also

included a craft show and the Festival of Trees. This year 51 trees and other

decorations donated by local organizations, businesses and individuals were

displayed and raffled off at the Gaston residence on Main Street.

Strolling musicians and carolers were among the musical entertainment which

took place at various locations throughout the day.

The co-chairpersons for this year's event were Jonna Waichberg, Diane Hess and

Stephanie Gaston.