Unseasonably warm temperatures had the Town of Bethel bustling with activity on Nov. 27, 2015 during the Annual Bethel Winterfest 2015 arranged by the Bethel Chamber of Commerce and local merchants had activities too.
Report and Photography by Paula Antolini
November 30, 2015 12:25PM EDT
Photo above: Santa Claus arrives at P.T. Barnum Square in a vintage Bethel Volunteer Fire Department vehicle, Nov. 27th. (CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER.)
VIDEO: Were You There? Downtown Bethel Winterfest 2015, Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival, Nov. 27
See more PHOTOS below in article … and VIEW VIDEO here:
Unseasonably warm temperatures had the Town of Bethel bustling with activity on Nov. 27, 2015 during the Annual Bethel Winterfest 2015 arranged by the Bethel Chamber of Commerce and local merchants had activities too.
A line quickly formed along Greenwood Avenue in front of the Gift Cottage to ride in the horse-drawn carriage, a favorite of most residents, young and old alike. The cub scouts were serving hot soup in front of the Gift Cottage and in P.T. Barnum Square too.
Bethel United Methodist Church (BUMC) members were serving hot chocolate in front of the Bethel United Methodist Church entrance.
The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay For Life (RFL) group was selling Luminaria tribute bags in front of the BUMC for the ACS/RFL “Light Up New England” campaign, spreading awareness for the cause. The ACS/RFL unites those who have who have been affected by cancer and created this movement on Nov. 27th to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those lost.
The visual tribute of Luminaria bags on front porches, front steps or the end of their driveway, carried over the Thanksgiving weekend starting at dusk on Black Friday, and is a reminder of loss, triumph and hope. The Luminaria are lit in memory of someone lost to cancer, in honor of someone still fighting or in special recognition of someone who has beaten the disease.
The Gingerbread Festival, arranged by Allison Hughes-Randall, was set up inside the lower level of the church and had an amazing assortment of hand-made Gingerbread Houses on silent auction, all of which sold. Hughes-Randall raised $270 with the help of ACS volunteers Teresa Fogel and Katherine Awalt, all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.
There seemed to be activities wherever you walked! The Toy Room was holding a TENZI game tournament where you could meet the owners of Lukes Toy Factory. Byrd’s Books was offering 30% off coupons for Small Business Saturday. There was a family football game on the CJH Municipal lawn.
Ornaments were being decorated by children at the Bethel Arts Gallery under the supervision of Sue Ellen Sprock Landwehr and Christine Amorin. The festive Caribou exhibit is still on display and a must see.
Music filled the air at P.T. Barnum Square where local business owner Damon Wade was spinning the vinyl.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life volunteers had a table with ingredients for holiday festival attendees to toast marshmallows over a real fire to make chocolate S’mores.
The Bethel Chamber of Commerce Director Bobbi Jo Beers completed yet another Bethel Winterfest of wonderful events for the holiday season, that continued into Saturday with a “Run Santa Run 5K Race,” and a “Discover Bethel Scavenger Hunt.” Other December activities are:
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