Jefferson plans Christmas in the Village

OAK RIDGE — The Jefferson Arts Committee will host the 12th annual Christmas in the Village event on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the historically designated Village of Milton (vicinity of Milton and Dover-Milton Roads) in the Milton/Oak Ridge section of Jefferson Township.
Admission is free unless otherwise noted, and parking is free at all venues.
Starting the day off, The Milton First Aid Squad will host their annual hearty Pancake and More Breakfast at their building located at 45 Milton Road from 7 am to 11 am. No reservations required, pay at the door.
The Jefferson Township Historical Society will offer tours with costumed docents at the holiday decorated Jefferson Township Museum located at 315 Dover-Milton Road. Each room of the Chamberlain home circa 1870 will be decorated around the holiday theme Nutcrackers. Mrs. Claus is expected to be there for photos as well, and Miss Elizabeth’s Shoppe will be selling baked goods, antiques, and unique gifts.
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church located at 153 Milton Road will be the setting for live entertainment throughout the day featuring the Arthur Stanlick School Chorus, the Jefferson Township High School Choir, the No Strings Acappella Group, and the White Rock School Chorus. The Church kitchen will be selling soup, sandwiches, and refreshments, and merchandise and craft vendors will be selling their merchandise. This is where you will find the JTHS Band Parents selling their live decorated Christmas wreaths.
Milton United Methodist Church at 316 Dover-Milton Road will host live entertainment in their church sanctuary (corner of Dover Milton and Schoolhouse Roads) featuring the Methodist Church’s very own Handbell Choir, The Arthur Stanlick School Band, the Jefferson Township High School Band, and the Jefferson Township Middle School Band. The Jefferson Township Community Band under the direction of Peter Tummillo, Jr. will perform their annual holiday concert (a free will offering is suggested) at MUMC as well. The Arts Committee’s annual Gingerbread House Contest will be sited here while the Church kitchen will be selling desserts in Headley Hall.
Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 1’s firehouse at 162 Milton Road will be transformed into The Village Marketplace with 18 high quality arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors. Here Oak Ridge Martial Arts will present a demonstration at noon and the Zodiacs Danzn Academy will perform at 1:30 pm. Other entertainment TBA. Members of the Ladies Auxiliary will be selling chili, hot dogs, chicken fingers, donuts, and refreshments.
American Legion Post #423 will be selling live Christmas trees in the parking lot of their post home located at 28 Legion Road, just a short walk or drive down the street.
The Jefferson Township Public Library located in the Municipal Complex at 1031 Weldon Road will present a program on Holiday Music and Story Telling with actress/musician Ms. Eve at 11 am; and then a Family Craft activity will be held with Ms. Bernadine at 1 pm.
Jefferson CONNECT will hold their “Light a Luminary for Remembrance” for those affected by suicide and loved ones lost at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, 1033 Weldon Road at 4;30 pm.
The Jefferson Community Players will perform the radio play Meet Me in St. Louis on Saturday evening in the Jefferson Township Senior Center, 54 Schoolhouse Road directed by Krysia Dour at 7pm. Admission is free with refreshments.
And travel outside the Village proper to Camp Jefferson at 81 Weldon Road for the Jefferson Township Recreation Department’s Visit with Santa event from 10 am to 3 pm.
Village festivities then continue into Sunday, December 3 with an encore matinee performance by the Jefferson Community Players of Meet Me in St. Louis at the Senior Center at 1:30pm, again with free admission and refreshments.
The Jefferson Township Museum will re-open on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm with tours of the historical home and the same offerings as the day before including Miss Elizabeth’s Shoppe.
Also on Sunday, Dec, 3, the Jefferson Township Community Chorus will present their holiday concert at 3 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Church on Berkshire Valley Road in Milton/Oak Ridge under the direction of Michael Yannuzzi. Nominal admission and light refreshments will follow.
Watch for updates and announcements on www.jeffersonarts.org, www.thejeffersonchronicle.com, www.mylakenews.com, and local newspapers.
As details unfold, a detailed entertainment time schedule (which is subject to change) will be made available at www.jeffersonarts.org in the Press Releases Section. Printed schedules will also be available as the event draws near in the display racks at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building, Jefferson Township Public Library, and the Recreation Office at Camp Jefferson. For other information and or inquiries, email artscommittee@jeffersonarts.org, or call 973-697-3828.