Experience Essex this Holiday Season

For the Month of December

Essex businesses are celebrating the season by offering weekly events and extended hours to accommodate shoppers.

Download a PDF version of this Calendar

Essex Mariner/ Sweet P's will conduct their annual Holiday Sale from November 27-December 31 featuring Model Boats, Carved Shore Birds and Nautical Brass. Sweet P's Ice Cream will be open daily through the Holiday Season

November 28th

XTREME Trees Gala
Left Bank Gallery 7-10PM Info Paul and Lisa program 860-767-7660
email: robin@paulandlisa.org

November 29th

Trees in the Rigging
Essex town hall at 4:30PM walk to the CT River Museum ending at 6:30
Info Essex Board of Trade 860-767-3904 or 860-767-8269

November 29th, 4:30 pm (Rain Date: Sunday, December 6

Essex's unique holiday celebration on the waterfront is scheduled for Sunday, November 29th. A parade of boats dressed out in holiday lights and decorations takes place on the River with the best view from the Museum's docks. The boat parade starts immediately following the lantern-it carol sing that steps off from Town Hall at 4:30 pm and moves down Main Street to the Museum. The evening finale is the arrival of Santa and his elves for holiday wish list visits.

Holiday Train show 10AM-5PM Connecticut River Museum
Info 860-767-8269 www.CTRIVERMUSEUM.org

November 27th, and December 1st thru December 27th
The Santa Special 1PM and 2:30PM

The North Pole Express 5PM and 7PM
Essex Steam Train and Riverboat
Info 860-767-0103 or 800-377-3987
Web site www.essexsteamtrain.com

December 1 - 31 Annual Holiday Train Show

Ct River Museum 860-767-8269

Griswold Inn

December 1 Fully decked in wreaths, garlands and bows, the month-long holiday festivities at The Griswold Inn begin! A special game menu is presented along with a more traditional menu of Holiday classics. While served by costumed wait staff, the Royal Court Singers perform seasonal favorites table-side. And on December 1 only, enjoy a special performance by the Coast Guard Idlers, a talented acapella group that has been kicking off the Holiday Season at the 'Gris' for decades! Evening festivities run through December 30 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only).

December 31 - Swing in the New Year with the very popular Shiny Lapel Trio performing in the back room from 8:30 - midnight. A special New Year's Eve menu is presented with seatings beginning at 5:00 p.m.

16th Annual Holiday Train Show November 20 - February 14

Holiday magic returns with train artist Steve Cryan's interactive, model train experience that promises to be better than ever. Look for new settings, new structures and new models on this twenty-six foot layout featuring an engine-mounted camera that takes visitors down the track for a ground-level view of Steve's impeccable miniature world. A perfect outing for train fans and all who are young at heart!

December 3rd 5:30PM

Open Space YOURS, MINE, OURS!
Ct River Museum 860-767-8269 www.CTRIVERMUSEUM.org

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Ivoryton Playhouse 860-767-7318 www.CTRIVERMUSEUM.org

Stories, Crafts and Games while parents shop 6PM - 8PM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

Main Street stores open until 8PM

Everything You Want to Know About Cheese
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

Scensibles

I plan to stay open the first 3 Thursdays in December, and I plan on having a Trunk Show December 3rd from 3 to 8pm exhibiting S.Designs Jewelry (Sandy Ferreira) and we will be offering wine and cheese that evening also. I will offer wine and cheese the evenings of the 10th and 17th also.

December 4th

Pastor's Tea and Mini-Faire 6PM - 8:30PM
Ivoryton Congregational Church 860-767-1004

Christmas on the Hill
Friday Preview Party 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Saturday Church Fair 10AM
First Congregational Church of Essex UCC
www.essexucc.org

Santa will be at Elite Dec. 5th 1:00 - 8:00 and again Dec. 19th 1:00 -8:00. We will also have gift certificates available for holiday shoppers all of Dec.

December 5th

Santa will be at Elite from 10am - 2pm and 4pm - 8pm

December 6th

Trees in the Rigging
Essex town hall at 4:30PM walk to the CT River Museum ending at 6:30
Info Essex Board of Trade 860-767-3904 or 860-767-8269

Victorian Solstice in a Victorian dollhouse 2PM - 5PM
Ivoryton Library 860-767-1252 www.ivorytonlioninc.org

Christmas Lessons and Carols 4PM
St John's Episcopal Church 860-767-8095 www.stjohnsessex.org

Community Music School's Holiday Concert 3PM
Katherine Hepburn Cultural Art Center 860-767-0026 communitymusic@snet.net

Italian Farmers Table Cookbook Author Talk 3PM - 4PM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

December 10th

Stories, Crafts and Games while parents shop 6PM-8PM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

Main Street stores open until 8PM

December 12th

Stories with Santa 10:30AM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org
Amahl and the Night Visitors opera by Giam-Carlo Menotti 7PM
First Congregational Church of Essex UCC
www.essexucc.org

December 12

Holiday House Tour

Essex Art Association
One day art sale of members art work
Hot chili and cider will be available

A Pocketful of Posies ~ free truffles

December 13th

Great Wines for Under $15 4:30PM - 5:30PM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

December 16th

Opening "Gratitude" Left Bank Gallery by Whitney Heavey

December 17th

Stories, Crafts and Games while parents shop 6PM - 8PM
Essex Library 860-767-1560 www.essexlib.org

Main Street stores open until 8PM

December 19th

Santa will be at Elite from 10am - 2pm and 4pm - 8pm

December 20th

Outdoor Children's Christmas Pageant 10AM
Trinity Lutheran Church 860-767-0228 www.trinitylutheranchurch.com

December 24th

Christmas eve services - for additional information contact local churches English Accents ~ We just unloaded our container of hand selected antique furniture and accent pieces from our semi annual buying trip to England in time for the holiday buying season.

That's the spirit will be doing a wine tasting on all of the Thursday night late openings.

Essex Steam Train

Santa Special

All aboard the Santa Special for a one-of-a-kind holiday experience! Enjoy the spirit of the season as you relax with family and friends aboard festive rail cars adorned with vintage decorations. Bring your camera for that special moment ... Santa promises to visit each child to review his or her Christmas list. Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and Pablo the Penquin will be on board to spread holiday cheer. Plus, each child will receive a small holiday gift from Santa's Elves!

Nov 27 - 29, Dec 5 - 6, Dec 12 - 13, Dec 19 - 20
1:00 PM & 2:30 PM
Coach Seats: $17
Parlor Car Seats: $34
For Tickets call, Essex Steam Train at (800) 377-3987.