”Snow Daze,” a painting by Jean Dalton, will be among the featured art at Maple & Main’s “Snow Show,” opening Dec. 6 at Chester’s Holiday Night Festival.
If you’re looking for holiday magic, look no further than Chester on Friday evening, Dec. 6. That night the historic Chester village will be especially festive with the annual tree-lighting and caroling, while all the galleries and shops beckon you in with holiday goodies and lots of holiday inspiration.
Chester’s Annual Holiday Night Festival, which is co-sponsored by the Town of Chester, Chester Rotary Club and the Merchants of Chester, will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Chester Center. Carolers from the Chester Elementary School, led by music teacher Meg Gister, and the United Church of Chester choir will sing as they walk through the center. They’ll pause for Chester Rotary’s lighting of the bushes along the old Chester Wall and then will gather around the town tree at the flagpole at Maple and Main Streets for the tree-lighting and community sing-along. The Chester Boy Scouts Troop 13 will line the streets with luminaries, Saint Lucia Girls will stroll around with cookies, and students from Rayna’s School of Dance will perform.
The plentiful art and photography galleries of Chester will host new exhibits and the shops will be full of holiday gift ideas. The town’s new 2013 pewter ornament, designed by Chester artist Peter Good, will be sold in the shops and galleries.
Free parking is available at the Water Street and the Maple Street parking lots, both a short walk to the center. More information about Chester can be found at visitchesterct.org.
Here’s a glimpse of some of the special events in the shops and galleries on Holiday Night:
The Al Malpa Photography Gallery will be open, showcasing photos by Al, holiday refreshments, and Chester books and movies from the Chester Historical Society.
Stop in at Ceramica for a cup of hot coffee AND to see some of our latest shipment from Italy! We’re also showing off our funky & fun ‘Vintage’ items and handsome Connecticut crafts! Remember to leave your email address in our ‘Free Drawing’ bowl for your chance to win a beautiful Ceramica piece! We’ll be open until 8:00 for your shopping pleasure…Tree Lighting evening and EVERY Friday leading up to Christmas!
Cummings & Good will feature their self-published long, literate and artful calendar, whose theme for 2014 is TREE. Both their second floor gallery and first floor boutique will entice with unique and original, art, artifacts, and body adornments.
The Chester Gallery’s annual Postcard Show, where all art is the size of a postcard or smaller, opens Friday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Come sip champagne by the fire. This year’s C&G calendar featuring Richard Ziemann’s “Black Spruce” for the month of July will be available along with Chester Merchants pewter ornaments.
The Connecticut River Artisans will be open until 8 p.m. offering Sparkly Angel kisses and 10% off with postcard and email address. Nibbles will be available.
Glowing Gold! New collection of artisan jewelry created in 14kt and 18kt gold for the holiday season by Dina Varano. Join us for a glass of wine, wonderful gift ideas and our signature wrapping all season long!
Visit the Hammered Edge Studio & Gallery on its 19th Holiday Night in Chester from 5 to 9 p.m. during our last winter season in Chester before moving to an expanded gallery and studio at 108 Main Street in Ivoryton across from the Ivoryton Playhouse.
Lori Warner Studio/Gallery: Black and White never goes out of style…. Neither does glitz or glamour! Join us for the unveiling of Mandy Carroll Leiva’s exquisite Black and White jewelry collection featuring black and gray diamonds, Tahitian pearls and moonstones. Lori Warner unveils a new series of black and white artwork. We’ll be celebrating like it’s 1966!
The “Snow Show” will open at Maple and Main Gallery. The exhibit in the newly renovated Back Gallery features depictions of winter from abstract to realistic by the gallery artists. The gallery Christmas tree will make its debut, loaded with small paintings perfect for gift giving. and they all are priced at just $75. Wine and cookies will be served.
The Chester Gallery’s annual Postcard Show, where all art is the size of a postcard or smaller, is one of the many special events on Friday evening, Dec. 6 during Chester’s Annual Holiday Night Festival. All are welcome to participate in the town carol sing and tree-lighting in Chester Center beginning at 6 p.m. as well as the many gallery openings and special events in town.