CALENDAR

Saturday, Dec. 8

FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON: The 7th Annual Freezin' for a Reason Sleep-out will be held Dec. 14 at the green at East End Park, Winsted. Spend the entire night with community leaders, while shining a light on the persistent issue of homeless families and individuals and raise funds for the Winsted Y Homeless Shelter. The goal is $15,000. All are asked to raise funds for the cause. Teams can set up a tent for the night. Each team is required to have at least one responsible adult. For more information, or to support Freezin' for a Reason with a donation visit https://nwcty.org/portfolio-archive/freezin/

OWL PROWL: Crack o’ Dawn Owl Prowl with Fran Zygmont and Gerri Griswold, Dec. 8, 4 a.m., White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield. Dress for the weather. Coffee and comestibles will be served beforehand. Optional breakfast at Patty’s après program. Meet at the A. B. Ceder Room. Members free, guests $5. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online www.whitememorialcc.org

LLAMA WALK: Llama Walk with Debbie Labbe from Country Quilt Llama Farm, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. at White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield. $20 per person. Meet in the Museum parking lot. Call Debbie from Country Quilt Llama Farm at 860-248-0355 to pre-register or to schedule your very own private llama walk.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of nonperishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20% discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET: Christmas on Main Street, Winsted, will be held Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Pictures with Santa at Noujaim’s Bistro, arts and crafts, roasted marshmallows with the fire department, horse and carriage rides, goodie bags, shopping and the tree lighting at East End Park at 4 p.m.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE :H.O.R.S.E. of COnnecticut, Wilbur Road, Washington, will hold its annual Christmas Open House, Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., snow date Dec. 9. Tours, silent auction, vendors, big tack sale, pony rides from 12-2 p.m., bake sale and sponsorship gift opportunities. Meet the horses, too. For more information or to make a tax deductible donation, visit www.horseofct.org or call 860-868-1960.

COOKIE WALK, FAIR: Morris Congregational Church will host its second annual Cookie Walk and Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10-3 in the Church Fellowship Hall as well as the Morris Community Hall. Choose from more than 30 varities, shop handmade crafts and vendors. in the community hall, or try the penny auction with great prizes.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE FAIR: St. John Paul the Great’s Annual Christmas Cookie Fair will be held Dec. 8, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in St Peter Hall, 107 E. Main St, Torrington. All proceeds benefit St John Paul the Great Parish.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES: Make Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. at the Harwinton Library. Ages 4-12 welcome, registration is required. Call 860-485-9113.

CHRISTMAS TOWN FESTIVAL: The 38th annual Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival is Friday, Dec. 7, 5-10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., on and around the Bethlehem Town Green. More information can be found at www.christmastownfestival.com or call 203-2667510 ext 400.

ARTISAN MARKETPLACE: Decked out in festive style, the historic Van Vleck House at Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury, is the setting for the annual “Artisan Marketplace” opening to the public Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with a wide variety of quality arts and crafts, food, ornaments, artwork, baskets, soaps and decor. Market continues Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m-4 p.m. until Dec. 16.

ARTS HOW OPENING: The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host its 8th annual popular year-end flash art exhibition, 12X12 BEAUTY, Dec. 8, with a reception with refreshments, 5-7 p.m. The show features original artworks by over 50 artists, all in a 12” x 12” format, priced at $100 each. Remaining art will be on display through Saturday, Jan. 5. A portion of all art sales benefit the library. For more information call 860-824-7424 or visit huntlibrary.org.

COLEBROOK HOLIDAY FAIR: Colebrook’s holiday fair, Dec. 8, starts with Breakfast with Santa at the Congregatioal Church, 8:30 a.m., fair begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall and Community & Senior Center, 562 Colebrook Rd., Colebrook, until 3 p.m. Unique vendors with fun gifts, Cookie Land, Live Trees and Wreaths for sale, Children’s Shopping Area and activities, Holiday Café, bake sale. For more information, visit www.townofcolebrook.org, call 860379-3359 x 201 or email colebrookholidayfair@gmail.com.

INDOOR FARM MARKET: Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market will be held at the Forman School, Route 63, Litchfield, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. More than 15 vendors participate. For more information and to see what’s on the agenda for market day go to http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/

FAMILY FUN DAY: Family Fun Day, for all ages, will be held Dec. 8, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Oliver Wolcott Library, 160 South St., Litchfield. Winter Wonder-Lab Holiday Show at 11:00 am. Plus gingerbread cookie decorating will be ongoing in the Jamie Gagarin Community Room and a special snowflake craft in the Children’s Library. Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Children’s Events.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Barkhamsted Womens’ Club is giving a Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 8, 8-10:30 a.m., at Barkhamsted Elementary School located at 65 Ripley Hill Rd. Barkhamsted. Tickets $6 adults, $3 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and under.

SANTA RIDE: the NWCT Peddlers will be hosting their annual Santa ride through downtown Torrington on Saturday, Dec. 8. The bicyclists will cover a 7 mile trek with frequent stops in the downtown area. Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday garb.

CHILD CARE FOR SHOPPING: The Teen Advisory Board along with Miss Jill of the Torrington Library will take care of your child while you do some holiday shopping, ages 4 and up, Dec. 8, 10 a.m-2 p.m.. Ages 4 and up. Lots of activities for children. Cost is $10 for first child, $5 for second, and additional children are $1 each. Funds will be used for TAB and teen programming. Register at torringtonlibrary.org.

CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: The Warner Stage Company will present the holiday family favorite, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16. For tickets and information, visit warnertheatre.org.

LAUREL CITY SINGERS CONCERT: Laurel City Singers will present ;”Need A Little Christmas Concert” Dec. 8, 2 p.m. at the First Church of Winsted, 95 North Main St. Tickets $12 adult, $10 seniors or $20 for a family, at the door. Food donations also accepted for the local food bank.

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET: Christmas on Main Street, Winsted, Dec. 8, 1-4 p.m. Pictures with Santa, arts and crafts, roasted marshmallows, horse drawn carraige rides, goodie bags, tree lighting at East End Park. Merchants will have specials. Sponsored by Friends of Main Street, Northwest Community Bank, Winsted Fire Department, Winsted Elks Lodge and Winsted Recreation Department.

BINGO: Sons of Italy, Center Street, Torrington, hosts bingo games Saturday, 4-9:30 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m., games begin at 6 p.m. For information, call the lodge at 860-489-1226.

WATERBURY CHORALE: The Waterbury Chorale and the Waterbury Chorale Festival Orchestra will present holiday concerts, Dec. 7, ,7:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Parish in Litchfield, and Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at St. John’s On The Green in Waterbury. Tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) are available online at waterburychorale.org, from chorale members, at Murphy’s Pharmacy in Litchfield, or by calling 860-945-6890.

ROTARY FOOD DRIVE: The Rotary Club of Litchfield-Morris will be holding its annual holiday food drive on the weekend of Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at the Litchfield Stop & Shop in the Village Green Plaza, Route 202. All donations will go to food banks and other organizations that support those in need in the towns of Bethlehem, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, Plymouth, Thomaston and Torrington. All donations of non-perishable food, gift cards and cash are accepted.

BASKET AND STACKS SALE: Friends of the Library Holiday Basket & Stacks Sale will be held Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the lower level of Scoville Memorial Library. Stock up for winter reading and cross off people on your gift list with great baskets, cookbooks, bios, fiction mysteries, DVDs etc

GINGERBREAD HOUSES: Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Celebration at the Beekley Memorial Library, New Hartford, Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. Bring a bag of candy to share along with your holiday cheer. Space is limited; RSVP by calling the library at 860-3797235.

CHOIR, ORCHESTRA CONCERT: The Crossroads Ecumenical Choir and Orchestra, sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Torrington, 835 Riverside Ave., Route 4, Torrington, will present “The Glory of Christmas” cantata, Dec. 9, 3 p.m. in the church sanctuary, followed by a reception. A “Hallelujah Chorus” will be accompanied by the orchestra with audience participation encouraged (bring music). Free will offering. For further information, call 860-482-4705 or 860-496-1289.

IAIS HOLIDAY FAIR: The Institute of American Indian Studies will hold a Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market, Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, and Dec. 8-9, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Shoppers will find Native American art, crafts, and cultures. Just some of the treasures to be found here are decorative gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artwork, flutes

Sunday, Dec. 9

ROTARY FOOD DRIVE: The Rotary Club of Litchfield-Morris will be holding its annual holiday food drive on the weekend of Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at the Litchfield Stop & Shop in the Village Green Plaza, Route 202. All donations will go to food banks and other organizations that support those in need in the towns of Bethlehem, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, Plymouth, Thomaston and Torrington. All donations of non-perishable food, gift cards and cash are accepted.

BOOK CLUB: The Scoville Memorial Library’s SML Book Club will meet Dec. 9, 2 p.m. in the Oak Room, Main Floor. The discussion is on “Less” by Andrew Sean Geer. Details at scovillelibrary.org.

IAIS HOLIDAY FAIR: The Institute of American Indian Studies will hold a Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market, Dec. 8-9, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Shoppers will find Native American art, crafts, and cultures. Just some of the treasures to be found here are decorative gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artwork, flutes, and much more.

CHORALE CONCERT: The Connecticut Yankee Chorale will perform their annual holiday concert Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at the Center Congregational Church at 155 Main Street. Tickets at the door, $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $5 for children age 12 and under, or reserve by calling Mary Rolfe at 860-482-5743. The choir will perform holiday carols and a small reception will follow.

CHRISTMAS READING: On Sunday, December 9 at 3:00 PM, Doug Schlicher of Woodbury returns for a Christmas reading at the Hodge Library, Roxbury, Dec. 9, 3 p.m. “The Shepherd” by Frederick Forsyth is a charming novella set in post-World War II England. Free; intermission with refreshments.

ARTISAN MARKETPLACE: Decked out in festive style, the historic Van Vleck House at Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury, is the setting for the annual “Artisan Marketplace” opening to the public Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with a wide variety of quality arts and crafts, food, ornaments, artwork, baskets, soaps and decor. Market continues Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m-4 p.m. until Dec. 16.

MORRIS TREE LIGHTING: Morris Tree Lighting Celebration will be held Dec. 9, 5 p.m. on the town green. Help Santa Claus light the tree, followed by caroling, hot chocolate, treats, crafts for the kids and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Morris Reading Room. Free.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Have Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Dec. 9, Community Room at the Morris Senior Center. Tickets $7 per person. Pre-registration required, email Morrissrctr@optonline.net or call 860-567-7437

POEMS OF MARY OLIVER: American Voices: The Poems of Mary Oliver, with Jim Kelleher, will be held Dec. 9, 1 p.m. at the Oliver Wolcott Library 160 South St., Litchfield. The New York Times recently acknowledged Oliver as “far and away, this country’s best-selling poet.”Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Adult Events.

WATERBURY CHORALE: The Waterbury Chorale and the Waterbury Chorale Festival Orchestra will present holiday concerts, Dec. 7, ,7:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Parish in Litchfield, and Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at St. John’s On The Green in Waterbury. Tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) are available online at waterburychorale.org, from chorale members, at Murphy’s Pharmacy in Litchfield, or by calling 860-9456890.

FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON: The 7th Annual Freezin' for a Reason Sleep-out will be held Dec. 14 at the green at East End Park, Winsted. Spend the entire night with community leaders, while shining a light on the persistent issue of homeless families and individuals and raise funds for the Winsted Y Homeless Shelter. The goal is $15,000. All are asked to raise funds for the cause. Teams can set up a tent for the night. Each team is required to have at least one responsible adult. For more information, or to support Freezin' for a Reason with a donation visit https://nwcty.org/ portfolio-archive/freezin/

THE NUTCRACKER: “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory on the Warner Theatre’s Main Stage, Dec. 15, 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Group discounts are available. To purchase tickets, call the Warner Box Office at 860-4897180 or visit warnertheatre.org.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of non-perishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20% discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

JOYFUL NOISE CONCERTS: Joyful Noise presents its Christmas Angelicus concerts. Tickets $45/$30, $10 students. Reserve at www.chorusangelicus.org. Friday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield; Dec. 15, 4 p.m., Collinsville Congregational Church, Collinsville; Dec. 16, 4 p.m., Salisbury Congregational Church, Salisbury; Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., St. Patrick/St. Ambrose Church. Litchfield; Dec. 22, 4 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, Torrington.

Monday, Dec. 10

BINGO: St. Maron’s Church, 613 Main St., Torrington, holds bingo games every Monday and Friday. Doors open at 4 p.m. Early bingo beings at 6 p.m., with progressive jackpots and food for sale. YAPPY HOUR FUNDRAISER: Monday, December 10, 2018 there is going to be a Yappy Hour fundraiser for Athena, a 2-yearold black Lab i nneed of surgeries whose owner cannot pay, will be held Dec. 10, 4-7 p.m. at Hanq's Restaurant, 131 Water Street, Torrington. Hanq's will be donating a portion of sales that night. The public is welcome. Raffles, items for sale.

FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON: The 7th Annual Freezin' for a Reason Sleep-out will be held Dec. 14 at the green at East End Park, Winsted. Spend the entire night with community leaders, while shining a light on the persistent issue of homeless families and individuals and raise funds for the Winsted Y Homeless Shelter. The goal is $15,000. All are asked to raise funds for the cause. Teams can set up a tent for the night. Each team is required to have at least one responsible adult. For more information, or to support Freezin' for a Reason with a donation visit https://nwcty.org/ portfolio-archive/freezin/

THE NUTCRACKER: “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory on the Warner Theatre’s Main Stage, Dec. 15, 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Group discounts are available. To purchase tickets, call the Warner Box Office at 860-4897180 or visit warnertheatre.org.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of non-perishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20% discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

JOYFUL NOISE CONCERTS: Joyful Noise presents its Christmas Angelicus concerts. Tickets $45/$30, $10 students. Reserve at www.chorusangelicus.org. Friday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield; Dec. 15, 4 p.m., Collinsville Congregational Church, Collinsville; Dec. 16, 4 p.m., Salisbury Congregational Church, Salisbury; Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., St. Patrick/St. Ambrose Church. Litchfield; Dec. 22, 4 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, Torrington.

Tuesday, Dec. 11

LIGHTING CONTEST: Torrington’s annual Outdoor Holiday Decorating Contest will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11, sponsored by the Torrington Parks & Recreation Department in conjunction with Torrington Lions Club. Displays should be lit from 6-9 p.m. Categories are Commercial Christmas Display and Residential: Decorated Doorway, Nativity, or Christmas Display. Entry deadline was Dec. 7. For questions regarding the Decorating Contest, contact the Torrington Parks and Recreation Department at 860- 4892274.

UFO EVIDENCE: Attorney Dyke Spears Evaluates the UFO Evidence, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. at the Beekely Memorial Library, New Hartford. As a spokesman and field investigator for the Connecticut Chapter of the Mutual UFO Network, Attorney Dyke Spear is highly qualified to give an insightful analysis of the UFO phenomenon.