13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Shiny & Brite

The Friends invite you to explore their 13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Shiny & Brite.  Stroll past fairy tale houses and fantasy trains all covered with bright, colorful candy.  The Friends’ 13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival runs from thru Sunday, December 17th, 2023.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season while gazing upon replicas of historical buildings alongside edible villages, all created by regional artisans and bakers, students and community members, expert and beginner alike.  

Finally, don’t forget to stop by “Ye Olde Gingerbread Shoppe!” Fifty talented crafters and artisans have been selected for the shoppe, creating a unique opportunity for visitors to take home a bit of the magic with many one of a kind, holiday themed gifts and treats.

The Wood Memorial Library & Museum is located at 783 Main Street, South Windsor, CT 06074.  Expanded festival hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 7pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Please note the library is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The festival is FREE and open to the public.  However, donations from individuals visiting the festival are greatly appreciated, and we suggest an entry donation of $1-5 per person.  You can additionally support the festival by purchasing raffle tickets and patronizing the gift shop. This festival is a major fundraiser for the  Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum and supports our educational programs and exhibitions throughout the year.

December Events from our Friends!
Please check their websites or Facebook pages for the latest information!

Holiday House Tour
December 15, 2023 at 6-10pm

The South Windsor Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Holiday House Tour on Main Street in South Windsor is Back! The tour consists of Six Main Street homes decorated for the holidays, along with the Wood Memorial Library & Museum's Gingerbread House Festival, Evergreen Masonic Lodge, and a live Nativity scene. The South Windsor Community Chorus will complement the evening with holiday carols at the First Congregational Church.  Participants use their own vehicles to travel between stops.  Tickets include a map of the stops along with photographs and histories of each house or building.

Tickets (for each person) include a booklet for the Holiday House Tour cost $35. More details are available on the South Windsor Historical Society's website.

Christmas Bird Count
December 17, 2023 all day

Join Hartford Audubon Members for the longest running citizen science project to assess population trends of birds during the winter season.  For one day, we count birds in a circle around Hartford that is divided into specific areas.  Bird an hour or bird all day.  More details are available on the Hartford Audubon Society's website.

Coming up in January!
Please check the website or Facebook for the latest information!

Vintage Book Club: The Narrows
Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 1 PM

Join our Vintage Book Club at Wood Memorial Library & Museum as they discuss Ann Petry’s The Narrows.  This book club is open to new members. Feel free to BYO food/drink.

Big January – Bird Event – All Month 1/1 – 1/31/2024

All of Hartford County – All January 2024

Give yourself something to look forward to in January!  Everyone is encouraged to join with other HAS members for a friendly competition to find the most bird species in Hartford County this month. See www.hartfordaudubon.org  for more details.

Station 43 Beginner’s Bird Walk #2
Saturday 1/6/2024 from 9am to 12pm
953 Main St, South Windsor

The second of four morning walks designed for beginners at Hartford Audubon’s oldest sanctuary. Station 43 is an excellent birding area year ‘round and on each walk we will look for seasonal birds. The walk is roughly 2.5 miles (3 hours) long over flat terrain but there may be water/ice covering parts of the path. Waterproof boots suggested.

https://www.hartfordaudubon.org/sanctuaries/station-43-wildlife-sanctuary/ See www.hartfordaudubon.org  for more details.