This weekend will be filled with various activities marking the fact that the holiday season is in full swing. Most of the weekend’s events will be centered in Gloucester, with the flagship Citizen’s Christmas and Holiday Parade Saturday. However, several organizations in Mathews will hold activities as well.
On Friday, Riverside Hospice will host its Legacy of Love celebration from 6-8 p.m. at the Abingdon Ruritan Club, Bena. Don Roberts, anchor of WAVY-TV, will be master of ceremonies.
Also on Friday night, ladies will have a chance to get out of the house and do some holiday shopping. Girls’ Night Out, an evening benefiting Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Abingdon Episcopal Church, White Marsh. Ladies who attend will be able to shop from the Premier Designs Jewelry 2012-2013 collection.
Saturday
On Saturday, Gloucester businesses will take part in the Main Street Open House. Usually held on Sunday, this year’s event was moved up a day to coincide with the parade and community tree lighting.
Businesses along Gloucester’s Main Street will open at 10 a.m. Visitors will be able to enjoy an antique car show, photos with Santa Claus, refreshments and more. Gloucester Main Library will also be participating in the open house with crafts, entertainment and light refreshments from 10 a.m.-noon.
The Gloucester Sheriff’s Office will be providing children identification services and the local businesses will feature open house specials.
The Classic Cruisers will host its car show on Carriage Court. Holiday arts and crafts vendors will be in the court circle throughout the day.
Santa Claus will be appearing at Twice Told Tales’ “Santaland” after the parade for photos with the children.
The community tree lighting in Gloucester’s court circle will take place at 6 p.m. and will be complemented with performances by various local school choirs, according to Gloucester’s tourism coordinator Hilton Snowdon. After the tree lighting, The Honeydew Drops will give a concert in the colonial courthouse; there will be a $15 donation required for entry to the concert.
“Plan on a fun-packed Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Gloucester’s historic court circle and Main Street,” Snowdon said. “It will be a great day for the entire family.”
To coincide with the open house, Gloucester Arts on Main will host a Family Art Day from 1-4 p.m. The free event will allow participants to craft their own holiday ornaments.
The Gloucester Citizen’s Christmas and Holiday Parade will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday from St. Therese Roman Catholic Church and will continue to Main Street Center. This year’s parade grand marshals are the Gloucester Youth Baseball All-Stars. “This team went on an incredible journey this summer,” said Gloucester’s special events coordinator Denise Carter. “They and their families traveled many miles as the team progressed to the World Series.”
Also Saturday, the Gloucester Woman’s Club will be hosting its Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Edgehill House.
In Mathews, the Mathews Master Gardeners, in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, will hold a family holiday wreath workshop Saturday in three different sessions at the Mathews Active Lifestyle Center. Sessions will be from 9-11 a.m., 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Later that evening, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital will hold its second annual Tree of Lights Gala from 6 until midnight at the Abingdon Ruritan Club, Bena. Entertainment will be provided by Crazy X Band and there will be silent and live auctions.
Sunday
On Sunday, Mathews Memorial Library will be hosting its “Deck the Halls” tree trimming party and nostalgic trip to yesteryear from 2-4 p.m. Those who attend will be able to help decorate one of the library Christmas trees, according to library director Bette Dillehay. Participants will also be able to donate mittens or scarves for the mitten tree and enjoy music of the season and holiday refreshments.
Also in Mathews, the public is invited to attend the Central Village Homemakers’ annual Christmas Sing-Along at 3 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church. Greg Bane will serve as master of ceremonies and Kathryn Diggs will be the piano accompanist.
The afternoon will include a variety of other performers including Grace Mortimer, the children from Mathews Chapel United Methodist Church, the Joyful Noise Band, instrumentalists Doug and Phil Johnson and soloists Laura Lane Mills and Girls; and Joy Thornton will sing and accompany herself on the piano.
Visitors to the Sing-Along will have the chance to sing their favorite Christmas songs during the audience request time.
Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall following the program.