New Additions Add to the Fun: Bonfire, Photo Booth, Gingerbread House Contest, ‘Easton Expo’
The Friends of the Easton Public Library invites everyone in Easton to the holiday festivities this Sunday, Dec. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road. This is a rain or shine event, and not to be missed whatever the weather brings.
These past couple of years, the rejuvenated Friends group has welcomed large crowds to join in some merriment as the holiday season kicks in, with artisans’ selling their wares; the Joel Barlow Chamber Singers regaling the crowd with beautiful a cappella; the Friends’ offering hot chocolate and cookies and crafts. This year the craft will be “build your own holiday buttons” for the kids; Santa will be listening to earnest children sharing their wishlists; and Ms. Claus will provide a singalong y for the younger set. By the time it’s dark enough to light the tree, everyone will be in full swing and in the holiday mood: a welcome lift for us all as we are keenly aware that so many in our world are struggling this year.
The Ms. Claus kids’ singalong will be near the bonfire at 4:30 p.m.; the Joel Barlow singers will sing at 4:50 p.m. and the tree lighting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Note that timings are approximate, and events will move inside if the weather so requires.
Earlier in the afternoon, at 3 p.m., the doors will open in the community room and the library lobby for a number of vendors, including: Crystal Teal Jewelry, Old Redding Farm, Philips Designs, The Fuzzy Bumblebee, Roaring Acres Alpaca, Sweetener LLC, Holm-Hansen Woodturning, and Crafty Waters. There is surely something for everyone. At a time of the year when gift-giving is in full swing, it’s great to be able to support our local artists and crafters.
In addition to the artisans’ market, this year the Friends have invited Easton organizations to set up tables to share more about what they do and to give back to the town as they wish. Consider it an “Easton Expo” if you will, designed to allow the sharing of information and good cheer in an open and town-friendly setting.
The Easton Volunteer Fire Department will provide a bonfire to keep everyone warm, and Easton Park and Recreation will offer a photo booth and “Whack a Mole” game outside for family fun. Other groups participating from town: the Boy Scouts will sell wreaths as part of their fundraising efforts; Citizens for Easton will hand out holly tree saplings, and the Congregational Church of Easton will sell boxes of homemade Christmas cookies. More information, fun and engagement will be brought by the Easton-Sviatohirsk Sister City Committee, the Easton Garden Club, the Easton Backgammon Club, and Easton Republican and Democratic groups.
Also new this year, the library lobby will showcase the various entries into the Gingerbread House contest. Entries will be accepted through Saturday Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. Contact Kelly Byrne Skarupa at kbyrne519@gmail.com to register now. Visitors and library patrons will be invited to vote on winners in three categories: Most Traditional; Most Creative; and Best in Show (ages 5 to 10). Voting starts on Sunday at the party and extends through Dec. 15, with the winners announced on Dec. 16.
The Friends of the Easton Public Library is a group of volunteers and donors/members who support the work of the library by raising funds and providing town events to fulfill the library’s mission. In recent years, core fundraising events each year have included participating in the national Library Giving Day, always the first Wednesday in April; offering a Used Book Sale on an early fall weekend; and holding the Holiday Market and Tree Lighting event the first Sunday in December. The Friends are always looking for new ways for the town and library lovers to come together and have fun. They welcome volunteers to join them at one of the quarterly planning meetings to share ideas on what to bring to the community, and what library efforts to fund. The next meeting will be Jan. 17, 2024 at 7 p.m. at the Library.
Please contact the Friends at friends@eastonlibrary.org or go to the website to find out more. For newcomers coming into town, the Friends are an excellent way to get to know others in the town!
Join us this Sunday! Each year is a little different, and it’s always a lot of fun!
