'Gratitude Burn' at Fulcrum Arts
BRATTLEBORO - Fulcrum Arts Gallery on 485 West River Rd. (Route 30) is hosting its first-ever Black Friday Gratitude Burn all day at the gallery on Nov. 28.
Purchase a handmade drinking vessel - ceramic cup or mug, or blown glass tumbler or stemware, and they will fill it with free mulled hot cider.
They are building a wooden effigy of a turkey, onto which you can write offerings on fabric scraps to adorn the turkey like feathers. At 5 p.m., they will have a great burning of the turkey.
Come give thanks for all the wonderful abundance of our lives, and gratitude to the ancestors who brought us here. Information: 802-254-9761.
Holiday craft fair in Chesterfield
CHESTERFIELD, N.H. - On Saturday, Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Asbury Church of Chesterfield will hold a holiday craft fair at the Town Hall on Route 63.
There will be local craft vendors and a festival of trees - a silent auction of decorated, themed trees and decor on which to bid.
The Christmas Cafe will be serving homemade doughnuts and coffee in the morning, and a hearty lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Asbury Church Women's Group will be doing the cooking.
Proceeds from the bazzar benefit Operation Christmas, which helps families in need during the holiday season.
Holiday raffle, open house at River Artisans
SAXTONS RIVER - The River Artisans Cooperative in Saxtons River is holding a raffle for a beautifully-crafted lamp turned by woodworker Franklin Geist with a handpainted shade by artist Debbi Wetzel.
Tickets are available at the shop, or from co-op members for $1 each, or six for $5. As a nonprofit cooperative, the members periodically participate in fundraising activities to help with the overhead of the shop, and these two members have donated their time in hopes of offsetting the winter heating costs.
The shop is fully stocked for the holidays with work from about 50 craftspeople, including weaving, pottery, jewelry, wooden ware, hand-knits, candles, cards and much more.
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the River Artisans will have an open house from 5–7 p.m., with light refreshments served. Raffle tickets will be available, as well as an opportunity to meet some of the artists.
RAC hours are weekdays from noon to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the shop during business hours at 802-869-2099.
BMH Auxiliary plans holiday events
BRATTLEBORO - The annual Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Poinsettia Sale takes place on Monday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tyler conference room at the hospital. Cash or check only. For an order form, contact JoAnne Rogers at 802-257-8238 or [email protected].
Also on Dec. 1, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Richards Building lobby, there will be a Celebration of Lights reception. Everyone is invited to join in honoring loved ones through the designation of a light on the hospital holiday tree. For information on purchasing one or more lights, contact Barb Henry at [email protected] or 802-257-0688.
Both events benefit the BMH Auxiliary.
On Friday, Dec. 7, in the Brooks House lobby during Gallery Walk, the BMH Auxiliary presents “Trim-A-Tree for Breast Cancer.” Beautifully decorated mini Christmas trees and wreaths starting at $3 will be offered for sale. All proceeds benefit the BMH Mammography Department. For information, contact Jean Gilbert at 802-254-5444 or [email protected].
Holiday craft fair in Acworth
ACWORTH, N.H. - Celebrate the season at Acworth's annual holiday craft fair on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5-7 p.m., at the Acworth Village Store on 1068 Route 123A in South Acworth.
Enjoy crafts from local artisans, free refreshments and coffee. For more information, call 603-835-6547.
Marlboro College hosts winter arts festival
MARLBORO - On Friday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m., Marlboro College's Winter Arts Festival begins with a groundbreaking for the new Snyder Center for the Visual Arts, followed by an open studio event.
See recent works and works-in-progress from talented students in both the visual and performing arts. Feast your eyes on drawings, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and photography, and visit with student artists to learn about their process and progress towards a Plan of Concentration.
Visitors can watch students in action as they workshop monologues, theater, and choreography, read their short fiction, and play a sampling of improvisational and electronic music. The festival is designed showcase the breadth of work by Marlboro students, as well as the beauty and rigor of their every day process.
Santa comes to downtown Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parts Department will welcome Santa Claus and his elves to the Gibson-Aiken Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Children of all ages can get their picture taken with Santa (for a donation), decorate holiday cookies, and work on various projects at “Santa's Workshop.”
For more information, contact the Recreation & Parks Department at 802-254-5808.
Guiford Community Church hosts Christmas bazaar
GUILFORD - Guilford Community Church's annual Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Dec, 6, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Handmade crafts, decorated wreaths, holiday baked goods, and specialty cookie platters will be for sale, as well as a great array of white elephants and stocking stuffers.
The popular raffle table will feature a handmade quilt, an American Girl doll, a gift basket of Vermont products, and more. Luncheon will be served and coffee and goodies will be available throughout the day.
All proceeds from the Bazaar benefit the church, which actively supports numerous local programs and organizations serving the wider community.
From Interstate 91 Exit 1, go south on Route 5 to just past the Guilford Country Store, take a left on Bee Barn Road, and another left onto Church Drive.
Festival of wreaths and greens for sale at All Souls church
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The annual Holiday Bazaar at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church will once again offer their unique artisan wreaths and greens on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Beautiful holiday handmade swags, wreaths, table arrangements made from locally cut fresh greens and natural wonders to decorate the largest and smallest of spaces will be available for sale.
Berries, cones and other natural contributions adorn the wreaths to make an artistic statement celebrating the beauty of our Vermont environment. Other handmade ornaments will be there to decorate the Christmas tree.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., with a menu offering soups, bread and desserts. There will be baked goods including pastries and breads, cakes, cookies, and candies at the Bake Table.
Children can make their own natural wonders for gifts at the Elves' Workshop for Kids. There will be a silent auction with many gifts such as theme baskets, maple syrup, hand-knit items, and dog sitting, while the Green Team table will have homemade cloth gift bags, Fair Trade chocolate, coffee table books and some videos and DVDs.
All proceeds benefit the All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist at West Village Meeting House on South Street, whose building is the home of the Theater Adventure Program, as well as a gathering place for special occasions, community events, and conferences. For more information, call 802-254-9377.
Centre Congregational hosts Holiday Bazaar
BRATTLEBORO - Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., presents its annual holiday bazzar on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the Christmas Boutique, stroll down Cookie Walk, peek in Santa's Attic, and buy a ticket or two for the quilt raffle. Or have a plate of Belgian waffles and check out the craft vendors. There will also be entertainment for the children.
Holiday party, raffle benefits RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - The annual Holiday Party at the Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
In addition to food and music, a 50/50 raffle will be held. Other raffle prizes include theater tickets to Next Stage Arts Project, gift certificates to the Bellows Falls Opera House, Flex Fitness and Boccaccio's, items from Coyote Moon and Halladay's Harvest Barn, and art pieces by Debbi Wetzel, Sloane Dawson, and Mary Hepburn.
Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5, available at the Library. Winners need not be present to win.
A silent auction is also being held for a large quilt dated 1844, donated by quilting expert Kathy Metelica Cray, proprietor of Grafton Village Quilts.
The “Nine Patch Diamond Quilt” is signed by members and friends of the Flanders family from Grafton, Sharon, Boscawen, and Gilford, N.H., and Stafford and Pomfret, Vt. The quilt is featured in “Quilting, Frolics and Bees: 100 Years of Signature Quilts,” by Sue Reich. A copy of the book will be auctioned along with the quilt. Bidding will close on Dec. 13, at 1:30 p.m.
All proceeds from the auction and raffle will benefit the Friends of the Library. For more information, call 802-463-4270, or visit the Library at 65 Westminster St.
Community carol sing in Green River
GUILFORD - The Green River Church in the Green River village of Guilford will hold the annual Service of Scripture and Carols at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Michael Mario, the leader, will be joined by Charles Butterfield on the organ and by a brass ensemble led by Bruce Corwin. The service will be recorded by WTSA-FM for rebroadcast on Christmas Eve. Refreshments will be served following the service in the vestibule of the church.
This will be the 54th annual service at the church, used as the only fund-raising event of each year. In 2001, the church became a part of the Green River Village Preservation Trust, a local nonprofit historic preservation group.
Memorial Hall hosts holiday concert
WILMINGTON - A benefit concert for Memorial Hall, 14 West Main St., will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m.
Performing will be an adult chorus, a children's chorus, and a flute ensemble under the direction of Robin Matathias.
Instrumental selections will be provided by Pedro Pereira, cello, Karen Horton, French horn, Robin Matathias, flute, and Barbara Lipstadt, piano. Soprano Deborah Canedy and Sindy Hassig, singer/guitarist, will also be featured.
Seventh-graders Julia Fillion and Logan Boyd will perform two contemporary Christmas songs.
The program will appeal to all ages and will end with everyone joining in the singing of Christmas carols. Admission is free (but donations accepted).
Equilibrium Pop-Up Holiday Shop opens at Superfresh! cafe
BRATTLEBORO - Jacob Alan Roberts and Jessica Jean Weston, owners of Superfresh! Organic Cafe, have opened a Pop-Up Holiday Shop next to their vegetarian eatery as a short-term community resource at 34-36 Main St.
The new store will be open weekly Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., through the New Year.
Equilibrium is an inspiring temporary venture that functions as a unique gathering space and marketplace that supports the local and global creative industries during this gift-giving season. It provides design-focused workshops and sells original, handmade art, clothing, jewelry, toys, home decor, fair-trade and up-cycled crafts.