BETHEL — Bethel’s Country Christmas, which runs from Nov. 29 through Dec. 24, provides plenty to do for people of all ages.
From 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Artreach Jamboree & Student Art Sale Benefit will be held in Telstar High School Auditorium and the cafeteria at 284 Walkers Mills Road (Route 26).
The free event features a student art exhibit and sale, showcases service-learning projects and a Jamboree concert starting at 6 p.m. with special performances from local professional musicians. Among them are Jewel Clark and Donnie Katlin, Richard Felt & Friends and Denny Breau.
Refreshments will be provided. All proceeds from the event will benefit the new Bethel animal shelter, “Heart of the Mountains.” The snow date is Dec. 6. For more information, contact Melissa Prescott, the Telstar Middle School Visual Art teacher at prescotm@sad44.org.
A Cookies with Santa event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Woodstock Elementary School at 224 Rumford Ave. in Bryant Pond.
That will be followed on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Breakfast with Santa, a pancake breakfast with Mr. Claus, along with photo opportunities, a silent auction and a gently-used book sale. Proceeds will benefit the fifth-grade class trip. It will be held at Crescent Park School on Crescent Lane in Bethel.
Also on Dec. 7, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., will be a Greens Sale, Crafts & Cookie Walk at the West Bethel Union Church on Route 2 in West Bethel.
There will be horse-drawn wagon rides throughout historic Bethel Village. Participants are asked to meet from 1 to 3 p.m. in front of the Chapman Inn at the corner of Church and Main streets. The wagon rides will continue starting from there at the same time on Saturdays Dec. 14 and 21 and Monday, Dec. 30.
The annual Christmas Tea and Fair will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church on Church Street in Bethel. There will be traditional tea, crafts, a cookie walk and more.
From 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. music and refreshments will be available during the Christmas at the Mason House in the 1813 Mason House period rooms. The rooms are decorated in traditional mid-19th century style and illuminated by candles. The event is free, but donations are appreciated by the Bethel Historical Society at 14 Broad St.
Meet at Key Bank’s clock at 3:30 p.m. to tie on bells for the Jingle Bell Run to the next event: Meet Santa! at 4 p.m.-ish on the Bethel Common, where the Christmas tree lighting will be held at 4 p.m.
Another Christmas tree lighting even happens at 6 p.m. at the Bethel United Methodist Church on Main Street to round out the day.
Sunday, Dec. 8, currently has two events:
* Santa Sunday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel, where people who dress up as Santa and donate a toy can ski for free. Preregistration is required. Visit www.sundayriver.com.
* The annual holiday concert by the Mahoosuc Community Band starts at 4 p.m. in the West Parish Congregational Church. Refreshments will follow the concert, which is free, although donations will be accepted.
From 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, a Singalong with Jim Burke will be held at Whitman Memorial Library at 28 South Main St. in Bryant Pond.
Starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, a Christmas cantata entitled “Lead Me Back to Bethlehem” will be performed by the community choir from area churches at the Locke Mills Union Church on Route 26 in Locke Mills. It will be directed by Bev Melville. Refreshments will follow. For more information, contact Joyce Hathaway at 674-2259.
The Telstar High and Middle School Winter Concert will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the school auditorium.
A living Nativity will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, on the Bethel Common. Actors and live animals will recreate the Nativity scene.
For more information about the events, contact the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce at www.bethelmaine.com or call 824-2282 or 800-442-5826 or write info@bethelmaine.com.
Check the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce website for updates throughout December at www.bethelmaine.com/index.php?page=country-christmas-in-bethel.
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- Diane Ward, center, of Bethel and Deepwood Farm, guides SamIAm, a 16-year-old Belgium-cross, through Bethel on Friday afternoon, providing wagon rides during the town’s Country Christmas. She will be offering these free trips from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
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- Pat Wright, left, of Albany Township and Deepwood Farm in Bethel talks with Holli Brough, top right in back, and her two daughters, Clara and Anna MacFaden, all of Shelburne, Vt., on Friday afternoon following a wagon ride through Bethel Village. The free rides are part of Bethel’s Country Christmas celebration.
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