Cornelia Fortier

Visit the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum's Holiday Exhibits

Submitted by Cornelia Fortier on Fri, 12/18/2015 - 8:12am

It's hard not to be sentimental as we pull our Christmas decorations out of their boxes. A little light up village that mesmerized our kids, earring-like decorations that belonged to Grandma and handmade pine cone creations remind us of holidays past. More Christmas decorations from another time, the Victorian era, are on view in the annual holiday exhibit at Norwalk's Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum running through January 3. [For more holiday displays visit our Holiday Guide.]

Visit the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival at Burr Homestead

Submitted by Cornelia Fortier on Sat, 11/21/2015 - 9:29am

Due to renovations at the Burr Homestead, the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival will not run in 2016. Look for an update in 2017!

If there's a heaven, I have a feeling it looks something like Fairfield's Burr Homestead, decked out for the annual Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival. If you're a fan of design, or just love looking at beautiful displays, stop by from December 3-6 when the Homestead will showcase more than 200 decorated live Christmas trees and wreaths, sprays, decorations and garlands galore. At the Festival, each of the mansion's high-ceilinged, Italianate rooms is transformed into a Christmas wonderland show room, with different materials, color schemes and themes from room to room, making each its own special Christmas vignette. [Visit our Holiday Guide for more events.]

Palace Theatre: Family-Friendly Shows to Celebrate the Holidays

Submitted by Cornelia Fortier on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 10:00am

This post is sponsored by The Palace Theatre, but the opinions are those solely of the author.

While there are quite a few holiday movies coming out this season, nothing beats watching your children’s eyes light up in wonder as they watch a story come to life right in front of them. And Connecticut kids will get the chance to enjoy one of the most beloved holiday tales live when Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical takes over the stage at Stamford's historic Palace Theatre.

Featuring two performances on November 28^th (at 3pm and 7pm), Rudolph re-tells the heartwarming story of the little reindeer who's bullied because he looks different. But when he saves the day for Santa, everyone recognizes him as a hero.

Holiday Craft Fair Shopping in Fairfield County

Submitted by Cornelia Fortier on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 11:45am

When it comes to holiday gift giving, each year I scratch my head over why our list seems longer than ever. True, there are the legions of coaches and teachers and babysitters and buddies who've gotten us through the year and smoothed out so many bumps along the way. But because I don't have Oprah's gift buying power -- no one on my list should expect a car -- and because there are only so many trays of holiday cookies I can face baking, I turn to my default gift resource: holiday craft fairs. Fairfield County has a treasure trove of them. (Also check out our Holiday Guide.) Holiday craft fairs are where I love to find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items, that are useful and decorative, as well as homemade specialty foods and treats that easily eclipse anything I can make. Oh, and another bonus of shopping at holiday craft fairs? Lots of jolly holiday spirit.

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