NORTHFIELD — Despite having a 12-year history, there’s always something new about the annual holiday celebration A Special Day in Northfield.
This year the event, traditionally held Saturday, also involves a dinner, tonight, at Cameron’s Winery and music by the Pioneer Valley Regional School’s high school band at various locations.
“There are a number of youth groups participating, including the (Pioneer) band, whose members have volunteered to come because the event meant so much to them as small children seven, eight or 10 years ago when we first started,” said Joan Stoia. She and her husband Steve are founders of the Northfield Area Tourism and Business Association (NATABA), which sponsors A Special Day in Northfield with the Northfield Kiwanis Club.
Blue and white snowflakes, signs and holiday wreaths mark the way to the various activities, according to A Special Day in Northfield press release.
Most activities are free, Stoia said, including the event’s signature horse drawn wagon rides, which pick up guests in front of 95 Main St. from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Guests can make pine cone bird feeders at Kidder & Company from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy doughnuts and hot chocolate offered by the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in front of Northfield Auto Body or visit with Santa at the Centennial House Bed and Breakfast from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
While children are with Santa, adults can peruse an art collection by Elice Davis Pieropan, or buy a Northfield history book from the Historical Society. Also at the Centennial House will be a presentation of Silverthorne Theater’s “A Celtic Christmas” at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 13, can be purchased by calling 413-768-7514.
Other child-friendly activities include making all natural reindeer food at the Fire Station from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., decorating gingerbread cookies at Mim’s Market to the tune of music by Phil Watson and Friends from 1 to 3 p.m., or making winter-themed crafts at Dickinson Memorial Library from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Deerfield Valley Art Association will also host a free art activity led by Kim Noyes of the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
To get into the holiday spirit, guests can sing carols around a bonfire at the Northfield Golf Club, weather permitting, from 4 to 7 p.m., or purchase Christmas trees and wreaths at the Buxton Christmas barn from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guests can also do some holiday shopping at Tom White’s pottery studio from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Northfield Mountain Antiques from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 20 percent off prices, or at the indoor farmers and craft market at the First Parish of Northfield Unitarian Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The church will also showcase its musical traditions with concerts by Town Administrator Willie Morales, who is a trained opera singer, at 11 a.m.; the Redemption Christian Academy chorus at 11:30 a.m.; and by Lynn Walker and Ann Linge at 1 p.m., as well as demonstrations of the church’s piano and pipe organ.
Tonight’s chicken stew dinner at Cameron’s Winery will kick off the weekend from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets, which are $20 each, can be purchased by calling 413-225-3247.
Also at Cameron’s, strictly for the 21 and over crowd, will be a free wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday to the tune of Christmas jazz by Deb Spyre.
For a full list of events, locations and times, visit http://bit.ly/2nA3nCW.
Reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com