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11/23/2015 11:00 PMOn Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, the Chamber of Commerce hosts Christmas in Clinton, with holiday happenings all weekend for folks of all ages.
Saturday’s events include a wine and cheese tasting, a tree and wreath silent auction, and live music. The festivities continue on Sunday with hayrides, caroling, arts and crafts, a living nativity, scavenger hunts, face painting, human dog-sled racing, gingerbread house exhibits, and tours of the historic Adam Stanton House and Old Brick in their yuletide finery.
Clinton Youth Football and Cheer will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, and various treats in the recently opened Annex (the old police department building). They will also have a table set up outside at which shoppers can purchase apparel.
Christmas in Clinton promises plenty of good eats to warm your belly and satisfy your sweet tooth. Niko’s Ice Cream & Confectionery Co. dishes out dessert at 25 East Main Street. You’ll also find Meriano’s Cannoli Truck and wood-fired pizza with assorted toppings from Frank Andrews Mobile Kitchen at the Pierson School. Sugar Bakery’s ever-popular cupcake truck returns to Post Office Square, along with Food Encounters, a local, family-owned food truck serving grilled cheese.
A complete schedule of events follows. For more information, visit christmasinclinton.com.
Saturday, Dec. 5
2 p.m.: Pierce Campbell’s Jazzy Holiday Group, Henry Carter Hull Library
5 p.m.: Celtic Music, Scottish Dave’s Pub, 24 East Main Street
Wine & Cheese Tasting, Andrews Memorial Town Hall, Sponsored by Bridgepoint Mortgage. A $5 donation is suggested, and proceeds benefit Child Care Services of Clinton.
6 p.m.: Tree and Wreath Silent Auction, Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Hosted by the Arbor Garden Club of Clinton; all proceeds go to the AGCC scholarship program.
6:30 p.m.: Old Lyme Town Band Concert, Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Sponsored by Stewards Ace Hardware; admission is free, but reservations are required. To download and print free tickets, stop by the Chamber, visit http://christmasinclinton.com, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 50 East Main Street.
Sunday, Dec. 6
1 p.m.: Soup’s On, Body Karma Studio & Shore TV & Appliance. Hosted by Families Helping Families; Clinton restaurants compete for the coveted Soup Bowl Trophy honoring the Best Soup in Clinton. For $5, anyone can be a judge and sample all the delicious entries in the fourth annual competition. Think you have the winning stew, broth, or chowder? To enter the contest, call 860-669-5592. Limited spots are available.
Letters to Santa, Bridgepoint Mortgage, 6 Post Office Square
Cookie Decorating, Liberty Bank, 5 East Main Street. Children aged 8 and under are invited to stop in and decorate a cookie.
Crafts, Cards, and Refreshments, Clinton Art Gallery, 18 & 20 East Main Street. Guests of all ages are welcome.
Bagpipes, Scottish Dave’s Pub, 24 East Main Street
Create an Ornament for the Soldiers, Cindy Stevens Fine Art, 30 East Main Street
Santa’s Workshop, 1630 House, East Main Street. Provided by Girl Scout Troop #62731
Be transported to the North Pole and help the elves in Santa’s workshop while enjoying treats with Mrs. Claus.
Meet the Characters, Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Members of Kidz Konnection impersonate characters from favorite Christmas stories.
Meet the Minions, Clinton Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Liz Isaacson; mix and mingle with characters from the blockbuster smash Minions and enjoy Minion stories and a craft with the staff of Henry Carter Hull Library.
Gingerbread House Exhibit, First Church of Christ Congregational. Register your original creation in the Gingerbread House Contest before Thursday, Dec. 3, for a chance to win a prize. Email Mari Lee at mlee1teitx@yahoo.com.
Craft Fair & Bake Sale, Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Hosted by the Shoreline Community Women, Inc. Featuring more than 25 vendors selling jewelry, Tastefully Simple foods, Pampered Chef kitchenware, scarves, ornaments, and more, the craft bazaar and bake sale runs from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Green Room. Santa arrives on a fire truck around 5:00 p.m. and will greet children in the Rose Room. Enjoy free cocoa and cookies, courtesy of Shoreline Community Women.
Face Painting & Ornament Making, Holy Advent Parish Hall, Morgan REACT and Partners in Community
Hayrides, Caroling, Hospitality, Holy Advent Parish Hall. Join Father Loram for a joyous ride overlooking the Garden for All.
Youth Games & Crafts, Pierson Lawn. Valley Shore YMCA staff will be on hand to lead games and hands-on activities.
Meigs Point Nature Center, Pierson Green. Sponsored by Clinton Insurance Center & UBS Financial Services
Join Ranger Russ for an up-close experience with reptiles and other wild animals living in our own backyards.
Hot Cider & Hot Chocolate, Pierson Green. Sponsored by the Clinton Lions Club
Rudolph, throughout Main Street. Sponsored by Clinton Chamber of Commerce
Luminaries, throughout Main Street. Sponsored by Clinton Lions Club
Methodaires Barbershop Quartet, throughout Main Street. A Clinton-based barbershop quartet performs various numbers.
Masonic Lodge Open House, Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Take a look inside the Masonic Lodge and find out more about this local organization.
1:30 p.m.: Kids’ Zumba with Jessica Demers from Body Karma Studio, Andrews Memorial Town Hall auditorium. Sponsored by Clinton Rotary; drop off the kids while you browse the craft fair, or watch your little ones as they move and groove on stage.
1:30 to 5 p.m.: Stanton House Open House, 63 East Main Street. This 18th century home decks the halls for a traditional New England Christmas.
2 p.m.: Living Nativity, First Church of Christ Congregational, 55 Church Road. Enjoy the true spirit of Christmas as members of the church reenact the first Holy Christmas.
Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt, Church of the Holy Advent (Parish Hall), 81 East Main Street
Hosted by Eliot REACT, Morgan REACT, and Partners in Community. A wild goose chase takes scavengers up and down Main Street’s Christmas in Clinton events, searching for the Elf on the Shelf. Collect all your stamps and be entered to win an Elf on the Shelf book/kit.
3 p.m.: Sailing Masters of 1812, Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 50 East Main Street
Human Dog Sled Races, Pierson School. Sponsored By Chris Damon of UBS Financial Services and Child and Adult Orthodontics: Drs. Carlough, Burzin, and Gagnon. Originating in Lowell, Massachusetts, Human Dog Sled Races are a part of any great winter festival. Teams of six—four pullers, a rider, and a musher—pull a sled over a course, ideally over snow. Team costumes are strongly encouraged. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, but same-day signups will be accepted until 2 p.m. Participants must show up no later than 2:30pm at Pierson School’s Back Field.
3 to 6 p.m.: Tour the Old Brick, 103 East Main Street. Sponsored by the Clinton Historical Society. Old Brick will be beautifully decorated for the holidays, open for tours from 3 until 6 p.m., and serving hot mulled cider and light refreshments. Gather ’round a blazing fire in the huge fireplace while harpist Amy Martin fills the house with classical and holiday music and carolers provide Christmas cheer.
First Annual Wreath Decorating Contest, Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. For information on how to enter, call 203-628-1427.
4 to 7 p.m. Holiday Dinner with Santa, Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. Come to The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department and have a holiday dinner or dessert with Santa and his helpers. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the Santa Hotline at 203-627-1427.
Fire Prevention Poster Contest Display, Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. The Pierson School Fire Prevention Contest posters will be on display for all to see. Come vote for the People’s Choice.
4:30 p.m. Community Sing, Andrews Memorial Town Hall
5 p.m. Arrival of Santa and Tree Lighting, Andrews Memorial Town Hall
5:30 p.m. Meet and Greet with Santa, Andrews Memorial Town Hall Rose Room
6:30 p.m. Christmas Play, Church of the Open Door