A winter wonderland in Hawley

HAWLEY, PA — Hawley Winterfest 2009 will kick off with an opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11 in Bingham Park and continue into Sunday, December 13.

The opening celebration will feature music by the students of the Wallenpaupack Area High School Ensemble and free hot chocolate. At 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Queen Of Peace Church at 314 Chestnut Avenue, the Virgin Consort will ring in the holidays with “A Victorian Christmas” (570/226-4620). Local art galleries will get in on the festivities as well, with a special Winterfest 2009 exhibit called “Time and Place” from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Looking Glass Art Gallery at 229 Main Avenue and the Winterfest Art Show from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Artisan Picture Framing and Art Gallery, 204 Main Avenue. The exhibits will continue throughout the weekend.

Saturday activities will include a lace making and tatting demonstration (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 815 Church Street), a one-day house tour beginning at the Hawley Municipal Building (570/226-4064) and the second annual Juried Arts & Crafts Fair at The Undercroft at the Settlers Inn on Main Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (800/833-8527). The library also will play host at the festivities on Saturday, with a performance by Native American Performer Frank Little Bear at 1:00 a.m., gingerbread cookie decorating starting at 11:00 a.m., and author book signings by a wide array of local authors including Clara Gillow Clark and Lindsay Barrett George (570/226-4620).

On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be and horsedrawn carriage rides starting at Ms. Elly’s Antiques & Such, 518 Church Street (570/226-7513), and at the Hawley train station there will be a sale of Christmas trees from Winterfest Tree Farm. Also on both days, the Ritz Theatre Keystone Street will present “Holiday Hijinx,” a free holiday presentation of an original comedy by W.A. Gabrielson.

On Sunday at 4:00 p.m. there will be a concert at the First Presbyterian Church at 815 Church Street with the Voices of Joy Community Chorus. Immediately following at around 5:00 p.m., there will be a raffle drawing for an original watercolor painting of a Hawley winter scene by local artist Barbara Briden, with proceeds to benefit local youngster Emily Bates.

Throughout the weekend, local merchants like Torte Knox, Settlers Inn, the Falls Port Inn, Misc Essentials, The Potting Shed, Teeters Furniture and the East Shore Lodging Gift Shop will be offering holiday specials, treats and deals.

For a complete schedule of events, including a map, visit hawleywinterfest.com/events-schedule.php .