Holiday Happenings
Dec. 17, 2022 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
Harwood elves help snap photos at Santa in the Park last Sunday. Photo by Gordon Miller
The holiday season this year is busier than it’s been for several years as gatherings and events fill the calendar once again.
More than 120 youngsters and their family members turned out last Sunday at Rusty Parker Park for the Waterbury Rotary Club’s Santa in the Park visit. (See more photos in the Scenes Around Town section.)
The Waterbury Public Library also had some holiday fun with a workshop where participants wielding glue guns and glittery tinsel decorations made their own festive “ugly” Christmas sweaters recently.
This weekend and coming week will be busy with many holiday events and happenings in and near Waterbury. Some are on specific days, some are ongoing, some have been rescheduled due to Friday’s snowstorm.
Here are some highlights in what is likely not a comprehensive list. If you know of more, please put a note in the comments at the bottom.
Tree sale supports food shelves, neighbor fund
Trees filled the church yard where purchases in the annual sale to benefit those in need are on your honor. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
For the 32nd year, the Wesley United Methodist Church on South Main Street is hosting the Christmas tree sale on the church lawn with all profits supporting the Waterbury Area and Duxbury food shelves and the Waterbury Area Good Neighbor Fund.
The sale began in 1991 by Ed and Robin Lemery in memory of their son Jason who died that year in a tragic accident. Since then, the annual event has raised more than $200,000 for the local nonprofits to benefit those in need. Last year’s sale contributed $11,000, according to organizer Skip Flanders.
The trees are harvested at Fibonacci Acres in Waterbury Center and marked with colored ribbons to indicate price. Payments in cash or checks made to the Waterbury Food Shelf may be placed in the drop box at the church entrance. Customers are asked to visit the sale between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and reminded to bring something to secure their tree to their vehicle if needed. For more information, contact Flanders at 802-244-5529.
Saturday concert: Solaris Vocal Ensemble
Burlington choir Solaris Vocal Ensemble visits Waterbury on Saturday, Dec. 18, for a holiday concert at the Waterbury Congregational Church from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Titled “Shout for Joy,” the performance will feature Robert de Cormier’s Christmas spirituals along with carols from England and Scotland including works by Henry Purcell and English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Led by Artistic Director Dawn Willis, Solaris will be joined by composer, recording artist and bagpiper Tim Cummings.
The ensemble also performs this weekend at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the College Street Congregational Church in Burlington. Tickets: $20; $15 for seniors and students.
Tickets and more information are online.
Reindeer Rendezvous
Reindeer attract a crowd along Stowe Street during their 2021 holiday visit to Waterbury. File photo by Gordon Miller
Visitors from the Northeast Kingdom return to Stowe Street on Sunday for the Reindeer Rendezvous on Bidwell Lane in between Stowe Street Emporium and Bridgeside Books between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Starting at 9 a.m. part of Bidwell Lane will be closed for the folks from the Vermont Reindeer Farm to set up.
The public is invited to check out the reindeer and talk with their handlers at this free event. No feeding or petting the animals, however.
The reindeer visit is sponsored by Stowe Street Cafe, Stowe Street Emporium, McGillicuddy's Irish Pub, K.C.'s Bagel Cafe, Tabbatha Henry Designs, Post 59 American Legion, Waterbury Rotary, Edward Jones, and Bridgeside Books.
With some of the public parking taken up by the reindeer, visitors are reminded that there’s parking available nearby at Brookside Primary School on Stowe Street, and around the downtown including lots on South Main Street, Railroad Street, near the train station and near the state office complex.
Also downtown on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
Waterbury Ambulance Service will have a vaccine clinic at the Waterbury Area Senior Center with COVID-19 bivalent booster shots for ages 5 and up; COVID-19 primary series vaccines; and flu shots for ages 6 months through 64 years. No appointments are necessary. All vaccines are free.
Stowe Street Cafe hosts Santa Fin who was a guest of honor at the 2021 River of Light lantern parade. Santa Fin (a.k.a. Finbar Ciappara of Barre) was featured in an HBOMax documentary released last month called “Santa Camp.” It tells the story of a training camp in New Hampshire for professional Santas including some non-traditional Santas such as Ciappara who is nonverbal and uses his iPad to communicate.
Meanwhile, The Tiny Acorn hosts Mrs. Claus who is looking forward to meeting and greeting youngsters and their family members.
Girl Scouts plan an ornament sale/fundraiser at Bridgeside Books.
Tabbatha Henry Designs will have ceramic ornament kits for sale.
Menorah at Rusty Parker, Hanukkah on Ice
A menorah in Rusty Parker Park will be lighted for Chanukah starting on Sunday. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
For the first time, Waterbury will host a menorah at Rusty Parker Memorial Park to celebrate Chanukah. A lighting ceremony happens Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3:30 p.m. Organizers new to Waterbury representing Chabad-Lubavitch plan to have music, latkes, doughnuts and dreidels. On each subsequent day of Chanukah after Sunday, another candle will be lit on the menorah at dusk.
On Monday, 3:30-5 p.m., the Ice Center hosts a celebration – Hanukkah on Ice – sponsored by the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe. Community members from Stowe, Waterbury and the Mad River Valley are invited to skate, light candles, and enjoy latkes and doughnuts.
Read more about the celebrations here.
CLiF book drive at Bridgeside Books
Books are piling up underneath a special tree inside Bridgeside Books where customers will receive a 20% discount for any children’s books purchased to donate to the Children’s Literacy Foundation. The Waterbury-based nonprofit promotes literacy programs for children in low-income families across Vermont and New Hampshire.
This year’s holiday book drive goal is 400 books. As of several days ago, however, it had not hit the halfway mark yet.
Letters to Santa
Santa’s helpers are busy answering letters to Santa collected at the special mailboxes inside the Waterbury and Waterbury Center post offices. Letters dropped at these boxes do not need postage. The deadline to send a letter is Wednesday, Dec. 21, in order to receive a response.
Do not forget to sign and be sure to include a return address.
See an earlier story for more details.
Wrap It Up and Win
The final drawing in the annual Wrap It Up And Win holiday shopping promotion by Revitalizing Waterbury is Dec. 21. Drop off stamped cards by Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Tiny Acorn, Bridgeside Books, or Sunflower Natural Market for the Wednesday drawing to award gift cards and prizes from participating local businesses.
The promo encourages shopping local for the holidays. Nearly 50 participating stores, restaurants and businesses have donated gifts and gift cards for the prize drawings.
Read more about the promotion in this earlier story.
In Montpelier
The State House ice rink is a popular winter gathering spot. File photo courtesy Montpelier Alive
No State House skating yet
Head’s up to anyone who had the Sunday, Dec. 18, grand opening of the outdoor skating rink at the Vermont State House on their radar. Organizers on Friday said they needed to cancel as conditions were too warm to have ice made in time. They ask the public to be patient and said they plan a special skating party on Jan. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Willem Lange’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ moved to Monday
Willem Lange reads "A Christmas Carol" in 2021. Photo courtesy Lost Nation Theater
Lost Nation Theater has rescheduled Friday’s planned performance, “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story,” by storyteller Willem Lange to Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. Lange will be reading the Charles Dickens classic on stage at Montpelier City Hall Arts Center and online with a livestream of the event.
Tickets for Friday (in person or livestream) will be honored on Monday. If any ticket holders cannot make the rescheduled performance, Lost Nation Theater will provide a link to watch a recording available through Dec. 31. The show is about 70 min. without an intermission. In-person attendees are required to wear masks.
Tickets for Monday are $20; $15 for students and seniors; $10 for children under age 12. The livestream/on-demand option is $15. Purchase and find more information online at lostnationtheater.org