SHELBURNE FALLS — It’s been 40 years since the first Moonlight Magic was held, and the annual event continues to uphold the tradition of celebrating Shelburne Falls businesses.
The community is invited to visit the village for an evening of shopping, music, holiday cheer and community togetherness from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.
“We still have all the traditional things,” said organizer Cate Chadwick. “There will be caroling throughout the village, the shops will be staying open late, there will be lots of music.”
Chadwick said one of Moonlight Magic’s biggest draws, the Parade of Lights, will kick off at 5 p.m. on Conway Street and head across the Iron Bridge leading to the Mountain Lodge of Masons, where Santa’s workshop will be set up. She added that this year’s parade is expected to be bigger and better than last year’s, with more floats, a large owl puppet made by local artists and a new “Moonlight Motors” lineup, featuring classic cars, farm equipment and other vehicles decorated with lights.
“That’s something we’ve talked about for years, but have never gotten off the ground,” Chadwick said of the Moonlight Motors addition. “We’re gonna make it even more a Parade of Lights. … We want to create extra magic this year.”
The first Moonlight Magic was held in 1985, and while Chadwick was a kid at the time and not involved in the planning process, she has been attending the event since its inception. She said she is proud that while the event has grown in size, it has stuck to its mission of supporting Shelburne Falls businesses during the slower winter months.
“The mission behind it was originally to celebrate our community businesses,” Chadwick recalled. “It started off with just a few vendor tables, and it’s evolved to have even more regional representation and so many artists. … It’s turned into more of a street fair.
“We’re trying to keep the original mission alive as we continue to expand,” Chadwick continued.
At The Mill at Shelburne Falls on Conway Street, attendees can peruse the MillWorks! market featuring more than 40 artisans showcasing glass, metal, jewelry, photography, prints, fine art, textile arts and more. The market will be open from 4 to 9 p.m.
Fiber artist Sue McFarland said The Mill at Shelburne Falls has expanded its involvement in Moonlight Magic in recent years to support artists impacted by the pandemic.
“We’ve been hosting MillWorks! since 2020 and it’s grown,” McFarland recounted. “Because a lot of retail craft shows closed during the pandemic, we wanted to give artists an opportunity to sell their work.”
She said The Mill at Shelburne Falls is home to many artists that may not be household names, but that are well-known in the art community and have shown their work in galleries around the world, and MillWorks! is an opportunity for those artists to introduce their neighbors to what they do. She added that in addition to the 23 studios at The Mill that will be open, 24 guest artists, who all have studios within 50 miles of Shelburne Falls, will be on-site with their products.
“We’re hyperlocal; all artists have to have a studio within 50 miles,” McFarland said. “We really support the local artist community.”
More crafts and homemade goods can be found at the Friends of Buckland Rec Craft Fair, which will be held at Buckland Town Hall at 17 State St., or at the Shelburne Falls Eagles Ladies Auxiliary’s Holiday Craft Market at 52 State St.
In addition to shopping, there will be a variety of activities to enjoy throughout the village. From 4 to 9 p.m., visitors of The Handle Factory, located at The Mill at Shelburne Falls, can paint their own ceramic ornament. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum will also have an ornament-making station, in addition to offering trolley rides.
There will be a scavenger hunt throughout the village, an opportunity to craft bookmarks and a Wishing Tree at the Arms Library. Plus, visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus after the parade in their workshop, located in the Mountain Lodge of Masons at 7 Main St.
Of course, no holiday party would be complete without music. The Mohawk Trail Regional School Chorus will perform at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall at 4 p.m. Other musicians and performers can be found at the theater and roaming throughout the village.
“We have a lot of great performances lined up this year,” Chadwick noted.
Parking will be available at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, 75 Mechanic St., and The Mill at Shelburne Falls at 49 Conway St. Shuttles will run from both locations. The event will be held rain or shine.
“Come out and celebrate, no matter the weather,” Chadwick said. “Come and enjoy the 40th year of this community celebration.”
For more information, visit shelburnefalls.com/moonlightmagic.