Whats Up in Windsor by Tina Castelli - December 2017
Downtown Windsor is full of activity during December.
It all begins at the end of November when 200 half wine barrels show up on the Town Green and construction of the
Tree adoptions took a little longer this year to sell out, folks just weren’t ready to think about the Holidays yet. As of press time all 200 trees were adopted, with over 50 of them decorated by local classrooms and clubs. All the grammar school kids will be working over the next couple weeks hand making all their ornaments. Then on Sunday, December 3rd everyone gathers for Community Decorating Day at 2 pm. It is a wonderful day where you see families working together young and old. Grandpa is sitting at the picnic table repairing ornaments with his needle nose pliers, Dad is taking care of decorating the top of the tree and the kids are running back and forth installing the ornaments as Grandpa gets them ready. Many make a day of it and bring picnic baskets, wine, tools, everything they will need to create the tree they imagined.
The Windsor Farmers Market final Market of the season is that same Sunday December 3rd from 10-1. This is your last chance to buy your favorite preserved foods, treats and gifts from your local farmers, food producers and artists before gift giving time is here. Gifts from the Farmers Market are the best, you know what you are getting and the person who made or grew it is there to answer any questions you might have. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce will be there with Mimosas and Bloody Marys and there are brunch and BBQ choices you can purchase and eat in the park. The Town of Windsor is also planning a Ribbon Cutting for the installation of the new Timeline Walk across the middle of the Town Green. It will be sometime during the Market, 10-1. A few of the vendors will be staying after the Market closes to offer Kettle Korn, drinks and roasted chestnuts to tree decorators.
All the trees have to be completely decorated by Wednesday night December 6th at 5 pm. Thursday is clean-up day and time to get ready for the Annual Town of Windsor Holiday Celebration coming up that night, December 7th from 5-8 pm. There will be wagon and train rides, kids can make crafts and decorate cookies, there will be hot food and treats available from local WHS Boosters, Minestrone soup from the Farmers Market and meat pies and cookies from local bakeries, BurtoNZ Bakery and Cookie…take a bite! Local youth performers file on and off the stage singing with Holiday cheer all the music they have been working on for the last few weeks. Mr. & Mrs. Santa arrive just before 7 and Snoopy will be there to help light the giant decorated Christmas Tree with 1000’s of bright colored lights. This annual event is a big kick-off to what is sure to be one of the most thankful Holiday seasons of the decade.
Bring the whole family, come early and have burgers at KC’s American Kitchen, fire grilled pizza at KIN, awesome fish and chips at The Publican or choose one of Windsor’s many top notch Asian restaurants. If you time it right you can catch both the 5:30 and 7:30 Snow times.
The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove is produced by People4Parks Windsor. They are a local non-profit group of leaders dedicated to improving Windsor parks. Their first project was raising funds for the new Windsor Town Green playground, completed last Fall. This is their 3rd year producing the event, taking it on after long time organizers, Karen Alves andMichael Powell retired. Make a point to come visit Old Downtown Windsor this Holiday season, it will be a wonderland of decorated trees, icicle lights and good cheer. This is the year to shop local, don’t forget your farmers markets and small family owned businesses for the best in local fare and customer service you won’t find online.
