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A Festive Friday in Chester

Looking to get in the Christmas spirit? Chester will be transformed into a Norman Rockwell-esque Christmas time gathering on Friday, Dec. 7, beginning at 5:45 p.m. In addition to hosting December’s First Friday event, Chester organizations are adding the Starry Night Stroll, the annual tree lighting, and Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive downtown by Chester Hose Company firetruck around 6:30 p.m.

Chester is also celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza at the Chester Meeting House, 4 Liberty Street.

“We have it all,” said Susie Woodward, one of the event’s coordinators and the owner of Lark. “Our town is a community and its celebrations and gatherings are charming traditions for everyone to enjoy.”

The evening is very much a group effort. The Chester Rotary will decorate and light the town tree (which is donated by Camp Hazen), and the Chester merchants will have extended hours, specials, offerings of goodies and libations, as well as a plethora of special programs.

In the town center along Main Street, there will be hot chocolate, holiday carols, a coat drive, gallery openings, live music, book signings, the St. Lucia girls and the return of renowned Postcard Show at Chester Gallery, 76 Main Street, which will include more than 60 artists from all over Connecticut working in a wide range of styles and mediums in four- by six-inch postcard size or smaller.

Chester’s restaurants are chiming in with some seasonal beverage options: at Sprouted Coffee & Tea Bar, visitors are invited to take in the hot chocolate bar, and at Grano Arso Restaurant, the First Friday drink will be the Pass Thyme Old Fashioned, with Ragtime Rye, sherry, house-made orange bitters, and orange-thyme simple syrup.

Over at the historic Chester Meeting House, a decade of the annual Shopping Extravaganza will be celebrated with more than 25 different handpicked vendors on hand offering hand crafted, homemade goods and wares including mixed media textiles, fiber art, farm fresh goodies and holiday accessories. In addition, there will be live music and yummy nibbles offered. “Everything happening together makes for a very fun evening, with something for everyone,” said Woodward. “The entire downtown will be decked out in holiday cheer. Chester in December is my favorite!” Main Street will be closed to traffic for the evening. For more information, call 860-322-4047 or visit www.visitchesterct.com.