Overture to Christmas kicks off with kids’ crafts and carolers

Alight snow fell over Chester on Saturday, Dec. 1, the first day of Overture to Christmas, now in its 27th year.  Following an elfish breakfast at the American Legion, children and parents packed tables at Chester-Andover Elementary School to paint pottery ornaments, create lace and bead candy canes and decorate Christmas cookies. The St. Luke’s Annual Christmas Tea and Sale offered delicious treats to eat on site and goods to take home and, in the early afternoon, carolers brought good cheer to shoppers and scavenger hunt participants. Songs continued to fill the air with caroling at the Newsbank Conference Center, lead by Stan Norsworthy and the Monadnock Brass Quintet, and with a concert of the Springfield Community Chorus at the Baptist Church.

The festivities continue Friday night, with skating — weather permitting — and Saturday, with a day packed with a ginger bread house  competition, puppeteers, tea, the annual Senior Christmas Dinner, a musical storytime at the Hugging Bear Inn, a live nativity and, of course, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. For the detailed events calendar and any additions, click here.

Carolers at the Fullerton Inn in this Norman Rockwell-esque photograph.

From left, Barbara Mello and granddaughter Lindsey, with Zoey create lace and bead candy canes at one of many crafts tables at Chester-Andover Elementary School.

Olivia, who is in the fourth grade, decorates pottery ornaments provided by Melissa Howe of Endless Creations pottery.

Little hands make happy work of decorating Christmas cookies.

Scrumptious goodies were being served during the St. Luke’s Tea and Sale at the church on Saturday.

With a mischievous gleam in his eye, Bill Reed greets customers at Misty Valley Books on Saturday. Misty Valley and about 20 other shops are participating in the townwide scavenger hunt, where card bearers visit the various shops, get their cards punched and can win prizes.

From left, Saylor White, Leah Cunningham, Daina Ricketts and Katie McNally. The light snow didn’t deter these Green Mountain Union High School carolers. They’ll return to the Green on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The stone fireplace in the Great Room of the Fullerton Inn is dressed up for the holiday. At 4 p.m. next Saturday, Dec. 8, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a parade of presents will arrive at the inn to greet children.

Luminaries add a festive glow to Main Street and the Green and will light the way to the shops that will be open late for weekend shopping.