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Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD The passing of the Thanksgiving holiday marks a special time for the Storrowton Village Museum as one of their largest annual festivals gets ready to kick off the December holiday season. Second only to The Big E Fair, Yuletide at Storrowton is one of the museums largest undertakings, featuring a myriad of activities for the entire community to celebrate the traditions of the colonial holidays. Yuletide at Storrowton will officially begin Dec. 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. 4 p.m. All activities from dance and vocal performances, lectures, cooking demonstrations and walking tours will be free and open to the public all weekend. Dennis Picard, director of the Storrowton Village Museum, said this festival is a way to invite members of the public to see the village in a new holiday atmosphere as opposed to their usual exposure to it at The Big E Fair. He added that Yuletide at Storrowton also provides people with the opportunity to incorporate decorating and gift ideas seen at the village into their own holiday celebrations. Thelma Greene, care person of the Yuletide Decorating Committee, said numerous decorators and florists began decorating the rooms in each of the village's buildings. She explained that each designer exhibits their decorative creativity through only natural and dry ingredients to show museumgoers how they can include the decorations in their own homes. Greene said she believes this festival is a fantastic way of kicking off the holiday season with loved ones rather than hurried interactions throughout the shopping malls. In addition to being in charge of coordinating more than 10 designers to decorate the meetinghouse, schoolhouse, Potter Mansion, law office and farmhouse, Greene and her husband will be conducting cooking demonstrations over the open-hearth. Pat Byrne, of West Springfield and former coordinator of the Yuletide at Storrowton for 15 years, said she is eager to begin her featured work of Robia Fruit Boards found in the Potter Mansion's attic. She explained that she will take the crescent-shaped boards and adorn them with rhododendron leaves and various fruits which symbolize the holiday season. Byrne said she aims to keep close to the traditions of the 19th century, when people would use apples, lemons, pineapples and other natural goods as holiday decorations. She said the decorations within each of the rooms at Storrowton are aimed at boosting the holiday spirit. Those attending the celebration will also have the opportunity to attend Picard's lecture titled, "History and Folklore of the Season," which he said explains the history and fascination with the modern holiday greeting card. The lecture will begin on Saturday and Sunday at noon. At 2 p.m. on Saturday museum goers will be able to experience a variety of performances including the Colrain City Cloggers. Ellen Miller, clogger and founder of the group, said they will be performing dances to numerous holiday songs such as "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells." "Most of us are almost hitting 80 [years old] but people like to watch us," she joked about their truly entertaining and energetic performance. "It's exciting to be the first performance [at Yuletide at Storrowton]. It's a lot of fun." Other performances on Saturday include the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers at 3 p.m., A Visit with Henry David Thoreau: "Walden's Visitors in Winter" at 1 p.m., Jerry Marchand playing the Celtic harp from 11 a.m. 4 p.m., ice sculpting, quilting and spinning demonstrations as well as many more events throughout the weekend. Yuletide Open House Tours will begin Dec. 3 8 for $5 per person. On Dec. 5 6 at 8 p.m. the annual Yuletide Lantern Light Tours will begin, which Picard said provides museumgoers with the chance to see the village lit by lantern light, providing a romance and ambiance seen at no other time throughout the year. For more information or the complete list of events for Yuletide at Storrowton call 205-5051 or go to www.thebige.com. | ||||||
