Whether you're in search of something fun to do with the kids or you have a babysitter and are planning a night out, look no further because Patch editors picked a variety of events taking place today and tomorrow to help you make the most of your weekend. Click on the headline of each for more information.
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Bethel: Journey to Bethlehem
When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2
Where: First Congregational Church of Bethel
Cost: Free
Description: People of all ages from the Bethel community are invited to a series of fun gatherings designed to help us experience what it might have been like to journey with Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Through various activities, conversation and short video clips filmed on location in Jesus' homeland, you will deepen your understanding of Jesus’ life and times. Each gathering will begin with a potluck or pizza from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
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ELSEWHERE IN CONNECTICUT
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Brookfield: St. Joseph School Christmas Festival
When: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: 5 Obtuse Hill Rd, Brookfield, CT
Cost: Free
Description: More than 35 vendors will sell their wares.
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Brookfield: Holiday Tree Lighting
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: Brookfield Municipal Center
Cost: Free
Description: Ring in the Holiday Season with the Brookfield Girl Scouts at the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 1, at the Brookfield Town Hall. The festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. sharp and include caroling, refreshments and Santa.
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Darien: Santa Comes Down the Chimney! Sit & Talk with Santa
Where: Outside The Melting Pot 14 Grove St, Darien, CT 06820
When: 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1
Cost: Free
Description: Come sit on Santa's lap and see if you made it on the nice list this year. You can enjoy music, food, elves, santa, glow snap bands, and MORE! There could be a BIG surprise! Come right outside of the Melting Pot to the Grove Street Plaza. Santa Comes Down the Chimney at 5 p.m. Come Ride on Rudolph & Lucy the Polar Bear at 4 p.m.! Live music, free candy Canes, cocoa and glow stix.
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Easton: Holiday Open House at the Adams Schoolhouse
When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2
Where: The Adams Schoolhouse
Cost: Free
Description: Join us as we ring in the holiday season on December 2 with a special holiday open house at the historic one-room Adams Schoolhouse in Easton. Children and their families are invited to make holiday crafts and enjoy hot cider and sweet treats. Carolers from Joel Barlow High School’s Select Choir will close the holiday festivities with song and good cheer at 3 p.m. In the spirit of the season of helping others, the society is accepting non-perishable food donations for local food shelters.
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Hamden: The Hamden Silverbells Festival
When: Saturday, Dec. 1 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Where: Town Center Park, Dixwell Avenue next to Hamden Middle School
Cost: free
Description: Town Center Park will be filled with holiday lights and community merrymaking on Sat. Dec. 1 from 2 - 6 p.m. for Hamden's Silverbells Celebration. The event will include a puppet show, carousel rides, hayrides, crafts, letters to Santa, caroling, treeligthing and Santa's arrival by firetruck. All events except for the puppet show are free, and the raindate for the outdoor activities is the next day, Sunday, Dec. 2.
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Fairfield: Christmas Tree Festival
When: Saturday, Dec. 1 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 2 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
Where: The Burr Homestead (739 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT)
Cost: $10 adults/$5 children and seniors
Description: The 31st annual Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival is a fun-filled weekend featuring holiday shopping and festive events. Come take a photo with Santa; buy a custom-created live wreath; tour the designer-decorated rooms; or shop for exquisite trees and wreaths throughout the mansion or at the gift boutique. Tickets also available for special events such as a formal gala, a nighttime children's event, a wine tasting and a traditional Christmas tea. All proceeds benefit the Cardinal Shehan Center and Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center. Please visit www.FairfieldChristmasTreeFestival.org for more information. Click here to read Patch's preview of the event.
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Middlebury: Gingerbread Village at St. George's Church
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2; 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 3 - 7; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8
Where: St. George's Episcopal Church in Middlebury
Cost: Free
Description: In its 45th year, the gingerbread village houses are all for sale. The sale of gingerbread men, a craft sale and more take place.
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Middlebury: Christmas Tree Lighting
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: Middlebury Green
Cost: Free
Description: Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas caroling on the Green followed by a visit with Santa. Hot chocolate and refreshments are served in the Shepardson Community Center Auditorium.
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Monroe: Monroe Historical Society Christmas Fair
When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: The Old Monroe Schoolhouse, 311 Wheeler Road, Monroe
Description: Visit us for all your Christmas needs! From cards to tags, to wrapping paper to bags. We have a large variety of home decorations and ornaments. As always, there will be a huge selection of gifts and our holiday favorites: English Muffin Bread and homemade jams and jellies.
By popular demand we are again taking pre-orders for our English Muffin Bread. Please call Kathy at (203) 268-3516 or jeffandkathyb@charter.net. Visit our website, monroehistoricsociety.org, for complete information.
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Monroe: Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Monroe Town Hall, 7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe
Description: The Monroe Women's Club invites all residents to attend their annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Town Hall Gazebo. Come join us to help usher in the holiday season and enjoy listening to the Jockey Hollow Chorus, Masuk High School musicians, a sing-a-long, and enjoy refreshments while waiting the arrival of Santa, Mrs. Claus and one of their elves. Luminarias will also be available for last minute purchase, to benefit the clubs' community projects - they are $5.00 a dozen. For more information on our organization please visit www.monroewomensclub.org and "like" us on Facebook.
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Monroe: Holiday Fair
When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd, Monroe
Description: St. Peter's annual Holiday Fair will be held in the Parish Hall. The Fair sponsored by the St. Peter's Episcopal Churchwomen will feature: Attic Treasures with antiques, glassware, jewelry, Christmas decorations & ornaments, children's toys, books & games. A Luncheon will be served from 11:30am - 2:30pm that will include a variety of homemade soups, hot dogs, chips and beverages and homemade apple crisp a la mode, there also will be a Cookie Walk, Baked Goods, Homemade Cake walk musical game, & a Chinese Auction. Pictures with St. Nick too!
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New Canaan: New England Academy of Dance's 27th Annual Nutcracker Performance
Where: New Canaan High School
When: Saturday, Dec 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2
Cost: $25
Description: New England Dance Theatre, a regional ballet production company located in New Canaan, will present multiple full-length productions of “The Nutcracker” at New Canaan High School in New Canaan on Friday, November 30 at 7:30 pm, Saturday December 1 at 4:00 pm, and Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 pm. In its 27th year of performing this holiday classic, NEDT’s Nutcracker features lavish sets and costumes, professional dancers from New York City and preprofessional NEDT company dancers, and over 160 ballet students from NEAD.
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New Milford: AWS Annual Christmas Bazaar
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: 11 Railroad St, New Milford, CT
Cost: Free
Description: The Animal Welfare Society of New Milford's Annual Christmas "Fundraising" Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 1, at the New Milford Railroad Station.
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Norwalk: Grand Opening of Blue Star Bazaar at Sono Marketplace
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: 314 Wilson Ave, Norwalk, CT
Cost: Free
Description: Sono Marketplace will be a year round indoor market influenced by the ambiance of European markets and food courts. The Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, December 1, 2012 and will include holiday carolers, a magician, and photos with Santa Claus.
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Norwalk: St. Philip Victorian Christmas Festival
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: 23 France St, Norwalk, CT
Cost: Free
Description: St. Philip Church will host a Victorian Christmas Festival with handcrafted items, unique gifts, music and food.
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Orange: The Mix LIVE @ Orange Ale House
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: Orange Ale House
Cost: Free
Description: The Mix is a powerhouse rock band featuring 6 of the areas most highly regarded musicians and the greatest repertoire of unforgettable and awe inspiring tunes ever to hit the airwaves. If you like the music of Led Zeppelin, Journey, Boston, Kansas, Whitesnake, Foo Fighters, Styx, Heart, The Allman Brothers, ZZ Top and other true classic greats, then The Mix is the band that you need to see.
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Ridgefield: Holiday Stroll
When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Downtown Ridgefield on Main Street
Description: Downtown Ridgefield will be hosting its annual Holiday Stroll all day on Saturday, December 1st. There will horse-drawn carriage rides, musical performances, children’s shows, ice sculpting and much, much more! As always, we’ve heard the Santa and Mrs. Claus are even planning a stop at this year’s Holiday Stroll. If this snow continues, they’ll need Rudolph to get them here!
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Shelton: Huge Moving Sale
When: Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 1 & 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: 45 Rivendell Dr, Shelton
Cost: Free
Description: All items in excellent condition. Great prices. Everything must go. Couches, Victorian Settee, chairs, cocktail tables, Bar stools, antique accent tables, kitchen set, oriental rugs, small entertainment center, sewing machine, pictures, household items, china, glassware/cookware.
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Shelton: Candlelight House Tour
When: Saturday Dec. 1 & 2 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Huntington United Methodist Church, 338 Walnut Tree Hill Rd, Shelton
Cost: $15
Description: Featuring the heart of six unique locations (3 in Trumbull), the tour will highlight a variety of Christmas traditions. At Huntington United Methodist Church, we will feature a holiday Gift Boutique, Café, Cookie Walk and refreshments.
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Stamford: Heights & Lights
If you're looking for some holiday-themed fun this weekend, Stamford won't disappoint, with a number of activities taking place.
Saturday brings hundreds (possibly thousands) of Santas to the streets of Stamford for a bar-hopping event known as SantaCon. Sunday, the Ferguson Library holds its Holiday Book Festival during the day and the tree lighting / building jumping event known as Heights & Lights in the evening, with Santa rappeling down Landmark Square.
There are also clothing and toy drives taking place with the emergency responders in the city, should you have a little extra and want to make a disadvantaged child's life just a little bit better this holiday season.
Click the header for all the details.
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Wilton: Wreath Decorating Festival at Woodcock Nature Center
Where: Woodcock Nature Center
When: Saturday, Dec. 1
Cost: $50
Description: Using a wonderful array of natural dried flowers, grasses, nuts, fruits, berries and cones, you will leave with an incredible balsam fir holiday wreath. All materials are included in this Ladies-Night-Out event, the proceeds from which benefit the Woodcock Nature Center. This year’s “Ladies Night” Wreath Festival Evenings will run for eight nights with two time slots each evening - 6:30-8:15 and 8:30-10:15. Registration is only available on line.
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Woodbury: Open Hearth Cooking & Colonial Crafts at the Hurd House Museum
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: The Hurd House
Cost: Free
Description: The Hurd House Museum will be open for the Woodbury Christmas Festival. Costumed docents will welcome guests for tours and demonstrations of open hearth cooking and colonial crafts. The District #2 Schoolhouse (located at the top of Hollow Rd on Main St.) will also be open for tours.
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Woodbury: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: North Green in Woodbury
Cost: Free
Description: All are invited to greet Santa as he arrives to turn on the tree lights. Region 14 school bands will be performing holiday songs and will lead everyone in a sing-a-long. Here's the complete guide to Woodbury's holiday festivities.
About this column: From our neighborhood to the towns around us, if you're looking for something to do this weekend we've got you covered.
