CONCORD HOLIDAY SEASON 2022!

COUNTDOWN TO THE HOLIDAYS!

FAMILY TREES EXHIBIT AT THE CONCORD MUSEUM

Visit the 27th Annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature at the Concord Museum through Monday, January 2, 2023. Admire 34 fancifully decorated holiday trees and wreaths inspired by acclaimed works of children’s literature.

CONCORD LIBRARY HOLIDAY BOOK SALE 

Friends of the Concord Free Public Library invite you to the Annual Holiday Book Sale! December 2nd, 3rd & 4th

UMBRELLA WINTER MARKET December 2-4

Unique, handmade gifts by dozens of Studio and Guest Artists and Artisans, Ceramics Studio Sale, Holiday Cafe, Maker Demos and Arts & Environment Family Drop-In Day on December 4th.

     

Concord Museum: The Fête – Friday, December 2nd

The Concord Museum transforms into a dazzling holiday wonderland. As one of the Museum’s most beloved holiday traditions, the Fête is a chance to celebrate the season with fellow friends and supporters.

CONCORD MUSEUM HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR – December 3rd

Concord’s holiday charm will be on full display in these festive, unique houses. Gather your friends and bundle up to enjoy this one-of-a-kind holiday tour! The theme for 2022’s Holiday House Tour is “Concord Through the Ages”.

CONCORD’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND HOLIDAY PARADE IS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 3-6PM

 

 

CONCORD ART HOLIDAY ART SALE

Join us for our Holiday Art Sale! This is a perfect opportunity to shop for your loved ones for the holidays. The opening reception will held December 1st, at 5:30pm. Runs December 1st – December 18th!

SANTA VISITS VERRILL FARM December 3rd

16th ANNUAL BARN BOUTIQUE

OPEN TABLE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HOLIDAY DRIVE 

This year we again invite you to create a holiday gift bag for either a local family or a senior who may be struggling this year. Many past donors have said, “Thank you! This is the most meaningful activity my family does during the holidays!” With demand for our services up significantly Open Table needs more participants to ensure that each of our clients receives a gift bag.

You will be provided with a list of suggested items to fill a gift bag. And we will send reminders and other information each of the first 12 days of December.

Gift bags will be collected in Maynard on Friday, December 16, 2-6pm and at Crosby’s Market in Concord on Saturday, December 17, 10am-1pm. Clients will receive gift bags with the final food distribution of 2022.

CCM COMMUNITY SING SERIES

One-Hour Singing Sessions and Performance Opportunity for All Ages! There’s no fee to participate, just a love of singing! The Concord Conservatory of Music presents the Community Sing Series.

MUSKETAQUID FULL MOON LANTERN CELEBRATION

Join The Umbrella Arts Center and The Old Manse under the light of the full moon on December 7.

Come by to partake in a lantern-making craft, enjoy hot chocolate by the bonfire while listening to moon-inspired stories, and then bring your newly crafted lanterns on a silent, meditative walk through the meadow as the moon rises over the trees, led by C.C. King.

Thoreau Elementary Toy Swap – Come & Shop!

On Saturday, December 10 from 3-6 pm, come shop in the Thoreau Elementary cafeteria for “new-to-you” toys, games and much more! All proceeds benefit class programming, events and more for students at Thoreau Elementary.

WEST CONCORD  VILLAGE HOLIDAY STROLL DECEMBER 10th

Join the West Concord businesses as they celebrate the Holiday Season – carolers, crafts, cocoas, special holiday fare from all of your favorite West Concord shops, and more!

CONCORD CHORUS – WINTER HOLIDAY CONCERTS

The Concord Chorus, conducted by Dr. Kevin Leong, is pleased to present its annual Winter Holiday Concerts on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 2:00 and 5:00 PM at the Middlesex School’s Memorial Chapel, 1400 Lowell Road

CONCORD BAND HOLIDAY POPS

Enjoy some musical holiday cheer with the Concord Band Holiday Pops, a Concord tradition since 1976. Under the direction of Music Director James O’Dell, the Concord Band will perform a mixture of traditional holiday favorites and some new songs for the season.

A Christmas Carol, featuring actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby at the Concord Free Public Library

Join actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby for a funny, heartfelt journey through Charles’ Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. The event will take place on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 PM at the Concord Free Public Library.

CONCORD FAMILY NETWORK HOLIDAY PARTY

Join Concord Family Network’s holiday party, Thursday, December 15th at the TriCon Church (though the celebration is non-denominational and all are welcome) in Concord Center, stop by anytime 430-630pm. The event will include festive activities such as a winter craft, a photo booth and holiday music, pizza will be provided. Children (and adults) should plan to wear holiday jammies (adults are welcome to as well :))

This event is free for members, $10 per family for non-members.

 

HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT – December 16th & 18th

The Umbrella Stage Company in partnership with Firebird Pops Orchestra is thrilled to announce our first ever holiday pops concert!

Together with the Firebird Vox choir, the orchestra will sweep you away with magical scores from favorite seasonal blockbusters Home Alone and The Polar Express, classic favorites including Sleigh RideThe NutcrackerCarol of the Bells, and more!

The Grinch

December 17 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join us for a delightful interactive theater experience!

CYT actors will inspire you with new and improved versions of familiar children’s stories, complete with a sing-a-long! Outgoing audience members may even join the actors on stage to tell a joke or share a special talent. And everyone gets a prize at the end!!! So put on your performing hats and come play with us!!! Suggested audience ages 2 – 9.

Playtime Theater performs at 53 Church Street, West Concord. All shows begin at 10:30 am.

Tickets: $5.00 per person at the door, cash or check only – no advance sales

Costume Character Day with the Grinch at the Concord Museum December 17th, 1-3pm

Come by the Concord Museum to meet the Grinch! Your heart will grow three sizes when you meet Dr. Seuss’s famous holiday character! Visitors can meet the Grinch and hear the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas! While you’re there, visit Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature. Free with Museum admission. Members visit free.

 

The CCHS Football Team is participating in the Toy Drive with the Concord Fire-EMS Department. 

 

Visit the  Gingerbread House at the Main Library Lobby!

Dr. Andrea Resciniti’s giant gingerbread house is now on display in the Main Library Lobby throughout the month of December.  This is the 24th gingerbread house Dr. Resciniti, a surgeon at Emerson Hospital, has donated to the Concord Free Public Library since 1982.

Please contribute to the Holiday Gift Card Program!

Give to your Community – Donate to the Holiday Gift Card Program!

Each year, the Town of Concord’s Community Services Division, in collaboration with the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, organizes a town-wide Holiday Gift Card Program to provide low-income families financial support during the holiday season. Please consider donating a gift card, in any amount, to a family in need. Gift cards from local merchants are especially welcome, as are gift cards from supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, or big box stores.

Donations will be accepted through December 11th. Gift card donations can be mailed to Bonny Wilbur, Community Services Coordinator, 55 Church Street, Concord, or they may be placed in the donation drop boxes located at:

• Town House, 22 Monument Square, drop box in entry lobby to the left
• Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, 19 Main Street, Suite #2
• 55 Church Street in West Concord, drop box outside to the right of entry

Questions? Contact Bonny Wilbur, Community Services Coordinator at tel. 978-318-3034, or bwilbur@concordma.gov

SHOP LOCAL!

 

Concord Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade!

All are welcome at the Town of Concord’s Annual Tree Lighting.  This year’s event will be host to a variety of outdoor entertainment, a parade and festive store fronts. Santa will make his way down Main Street aboard one of Concord’s Fire Trucks to light the Town Tree.

Join the fun & festivities!

 

The Concord Scout House: A Unique and Historic Gem!

The Concord Scout House Website is now selling tickets for our annual fundraiser, the Concord Cuisine Raffle. 4 Big Bundles of gift certificates worth hundreds of dollars will be raffled off this coming December, but there are just 600 tickets available! Gift Certificates include Concord-area restaurants, cafes, bakeries, delis, liquor stores, creameries, and pizzerias. All proceeds directly benefit the Concord Scout House. Raffle Tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40. Tickets are limited and are available

 

The Concord Scout House, a 19th Century historic structure on Walden Street in downtown Concord, is almost hidden from view by tall pines. The renovated former dairy barn has brought the wider community together since 1930, when the building was converted to a hall by funds raised by Mary Chamberlin (during the Great Depression!). In 1931, local Girl Scouts used the building, with local Boy Scout Groups joining on in 1988. The Co-operative nursery-the Barn School has used the barn basement since 1980, and throughout the decades, the great hall has hosted dances of every kind, including social dance classes for Concord school children since the 1940’s.

The Scout House still provides space for weekly scout meetings, but also offers a place to meet for those seeking a rustic hall for parties, weddings, meetings, milestones, and celebrations of life, as well as arts & craft fairs, plays, and, recently, movies and tv shows. As an historic structure, the Scout House is a unique building in a town known for it’s history and architecture. To learn more about the Concord Scout House, it’s beginnings and current activities, visit www.concordscouthouse.org

 

Of course, a 19th century building requires ongoing improvements, and the Scout House’s annual Concord Cuisine Raffle of gift certificates to area eateries helps raise much needed funds.  Learn more about the Scout House and the Raffle at www.concordscouthouse.org.

 

Concord-Carlisle Community Chest celebrates 75 years – be a part of it by ordering your Concord Bangle!

Happy 75th to the  Concord-Carlisle Community Chest  – celebrating 75 years of work engaging neighbors to help neighbors. The Concord-Carlisle Community Chest is uniquely positioned to truly effect change for another seventy-five years.

Designed by Meg Carter of megcarterdesigns.com, the hand painted artwork captures images of many of the historic sites in Concord, MA including the Old North Bridge, Ralph Waldo Emerson House, Orchard House, Concord Free Public Library, Colonial Inn, and Old Manse.

Meg’s artwork has been reproduced as electroplated gold over a stainless steel bangle. The inside diameter is 6.4 cm, the outside circumference measures 23 cm.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this bangle support the Bridge to the Future Campaign ensuring every dollar raised through our Annual Fund is directed back into the community.

 

Order below and arrange pickup at the Community Chest office, or purchase onsite at local retailers J’aimBlue Dry Goods, or Joy Street Life & Home.

Click here to purchase!

Fund 100 Beds for Children’s Hospitals in Ukraine

FUND HOSPITAL BEDS FOR UKRAINIAN CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS  

See Concord’s Traveling Ukrainian Quilt!  It will be on display at various locations in town and is being raffled to raise money for children’s hospital beds in war-torn Ukraine.  The War in Ukraine continues to rage, and hospitals desperately need beds for children’s and maternity wards.  This Ukraine-themed quilt was hand-made by the Concord Piecemakers   to help raise funds and will go to one lucky winner on December 4th.   Buy tickets for Concord’s Ukrainian Quilt Raffle to raise money for hospital beds!

 

A $250 donation funds one bed, and any donation is helpful.  

 

Our Concord fall goal is $25,000 for 100 beds!  Please consider funding a bed – on your own or with friends and family.  The raffle winner will be announced at the 12/4 Concord Tree Lighting – all donors will be notified by email of the result.

https://go.rallyup.com/ukrainianquilt

 

Ukrainian Traveling Quilt Schedule

 

– Nov 4-5:  Piecemakers Quilt Show, St. Matthews Church in Acton (435 Central St, Acton)

– Nov 7-11: Cambridge Trust (75 Main St, Concord)

– Nov 26 – Dec 3: Umbrella Arts Center (40 Stow St, Concord)