Happy Holidays to All! Read the Manchester Journal’s Merriement Supplement

Holiday Inn Tours. Dec. 1 and Dec 8. Enjoy visiting our unique lodgings dressed up for the holidays and offering guests and visitors light bites, entertainment and warm holiday wishes for all. Purchase your tickets online using any major credit card or at the Visitor Welcome Center at 39 Bonnet Street, or at any of the participating lodgings. All proceeds from Merriment events goes to local Community Food Cupboards. No refunds. Thank you. Download the Inn Tour Map.

Our Inn Tour Lodging Participants                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Arlington Inn, West Mountain Inn, Casablanca Motel, Deming House, Dorset Inn (Dec 1 only), Equinox Resort & Spa, The Inn at Manchester, Inn at Ormsby Hill, Inn at West View Farm, Inn at Willow Pond, Ira Allen, Olympia Lodge, Reluctant Panther Inn, Squire House B & B (Dec 1 only) and the Wilburton Inn.

Lighted Tractor Parade. Dec 1. Dusk. Free to the public. Parade route to be announced.

Wine Tasting Events ~ 3 – 5PM,$10 each/all proceeds benefit The Community Food Cupboard

Dec 1 ~ Barrows House

Dec 8 ~ The Perfect Wife

Dec 15 ~ Gringo Jack’s

Purchase wine tasting tickets

or at The Chamber office

Tree Lighting Events -  All are free and open to the public.

December 5, Dorset Tree Lighting, Dorset Green ~ We’ll begin at the Christmas tree on the Dorset Green for a  Christmas Carol  Sing-a-long [we have printed carol books--Bring a flashlight].  Then we will head over to the Dorset Church for a Chili and Soup Potluck.  Please bring a pot of your favorite chili or soup. After supper we will have ornament making session. We will be making ornaments for the “Jesse Tree” to be hung by the congregation families on December 9^TH  at the Christmas Tradition Sunday service. Also,  We will be collecting  NEW, UNWRAPPED toys for children  aged 1-12 years to donate to the Community Sharing Project.

Dec 8, 5:30 pm, Arlington’s St Lucia Festival of Lights, St James Church

Horsedrawn Wagon Rides – Dec 1 and 8, noon, 2PM and 4PM, $10/per person (15 person maximum per ride). This popular event is always sold out- please call the Chamber today to reserve your spot! 802-362-6313

Giveaways and Prize Drawings

Manchester Music Festival Holiday Concert

New Year’s Eve Concert
Monday, December 31
Family Concert at 4 pm
Full Program at 6 pm
First Congregational Church, Manchester, VT

Purchase tickets here

Hildene hosts Our Home for the Holidays

On Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, The Museum Store at Hildene hosts its annual Our Home for the Holidays, welcoming neighbors and new friends alike to the warmth of the Lincoln family’s one hundred year old restored carriage barn dressed in all its holiday finery. The spirit of the season abounds in this historic place where the aroma of hot apple cider and fresh cider doughnuts wafts through the air.  Add the crisp fragrance of pine boughs, the sounds of the season and Vermont specialty food tastings and the mood is set for a unique holiday shopping experience.  The store is filled to the brim with gifts inspired by Lincoln family history, the Gilded Age, gardens, nature and life at Hildene Farm.  Visitors will find distinctive items for holiday gift giving that are sure to please young and old alike, from Victorian Era ornaments and greeting cards to choices for children, from books to bees.  Adding to the festive atmosphere on Sunday will be live holiday music from the Emerald Valley Recorder Ensemble. Admission fee is not required for visitors to the Welcome Center and The Museum Store.

Windham Hill Inn Holiday Market on Saturday, December 8th  noon to 5pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Fun for the whole family! Local artisans will be on hand selling the perfect gift for everyone on your list.  Our very own Katja will have authentic German Christmas ornaments for sale. Gluwein and cookies will be served and a full German lunch will be offered in our restaurant from noon to 3pm.

Dec 15 & 16: TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SALE ONLINE OR AT THE CHAMBER OFFICE — LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE SITE.  PLEASE ARRIVE ONE HOUR BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME TO PURCHASE TICKETS. Please note that sold out times are Sat at 10:00 and 11:30 and Sun at 10:00 and 1:00.

This whimsical 2012 holiday train will leave r.k. Miles Depot Station on December 15th and 16th, 2012, taking its riders on a one-hour enchanting journey through the Green Mountains.

Passengers will be entertained with holiday melodies and dance routines by the elves of the theater and dance program of Burr and Burton Academy under the direction of Broadway and Hollywood song and dance man Jim Raposa. Hot chocolate and button cookies will be served in decorated trains. Adding to the memories of this holiday ride, the elves will be reading a special story about Christopher Pop-In-Kins, who will also be hidden on every train in the greenery peeking to see who’s been naughty and nice! Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will make a surprise visit to provide every child with a special gift.

In addition, there will be a special guest appearance granted by Santa Claus for Christopher Pop-In-Kins to pop into Manchester, VT and share in the excitement of the season.  He’ll be here with his elves boarding the passengers for a ride of a lifetime on the ELF EXPRESS. Join Christopher and his friends on a fun-filled, sing-along mini-performance adventure through the Green Mountains.  Sharing, Laughing, and Loving …This is a Pop-In-Kins Family Adventure you won’t want to miss!!