Holiday Events Highlight Simsbury's November Tourism Calendar

The Simsbury Historical Society invites visitors to experience the splendor of the season in the picturesque Farmington Valley with a November calendar packed with fun-filled and festive holiday activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Town organizations including the Simsbury Historical Society, Simsbury Chamber of Commerce, Simsbury Public Library, Simsbury Free Library, Simsbury Performing Arts Center, Simsbury Parks and Recreation, Downtown Simsbury, Simsbury Main Street and Simsbury Grange are coming together to make the town sparkle and shine with special events, highlighted by Simsbury Celebrates!, the signature, spectacular event that ushers in the holiday season and makes Simsbury a standout town in which to live, work and play!

For the past 17 years on Thanksgiving weekend, the streets of downtown Simsbury are shut down and transformed into a magical winter wonderland for Simsbury Celebrates! This year, the beloved holiday tradition continues with its popular firetruck holiday light parade featuring an appearance by Santa, the highly anticipated Gingerbread House Competition, unique musical, dance and theatrical performances, delectable delights and winter treats, free entertainment and one of the most decadent Fireworks displays in the state!

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at The Simsbury Free Library on November 17th when it hosts the Simsbury Open Studios Fine Art Show and Sale. Other memorable November events include the ever-popular Simsbury Celebrates!Gingerbread Competition on November 20th at the Simsbury Free Library and the opening of Simsbury Farms Ice Rink on November 3rd.

Other exciting November events include:

Saturday, November 3rd: Welcome Winter Best of Market Artisan Craft Fair – 1616 Hopmeadow Street, Town Line Village Plaza (10:00a-4:00p)

Sunday, November 4th: Talk on CT Valley Tobacco by Brianna Dunlop – Ellsworth Center -10 Phelps Lane (1:00p)

• Sponsored by the Historic Sites of Connecticut’s Farmington Valley. Fee: $5

Wednesday, November 7th: Paint Night with Kate Tortland – Simsbury Free Library – 749 Hopmeadow Street (6:30-8:30p)

• Invite your friends and share a great night of painting with local artist, Kate Tortland at The Simsbury Free Library’s Paint Night. Create a stunning, original Botanical painting while learning about minimalism. Register by October 30th as this popular event fills up fast! Seating is limited to 20 people. The cost of this program is $25 per person. For more information, call 860-408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

Saturday, November 10th: Drop in Genealogy- Simsbury Free Library – 749 Hopmeadow Street (10:00a– 2:00p)

• Researching your family tree and don't know where else to look to find missing ancestors? Bring any information you have and let genealogist Alison Watson Maston help. She specializes in researching vital records, land records, immigration and naturalization records as well as probate records. She has particular expertise in New England, New York City and Ireland. Free to members; $5 for non-members. To make a reservation or for more information, call (860) 408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

Tuesday, November 13th: Drop In Book Club: White Houses by Amy Bloom- Simsbury Free Library- 749 Hopmeadow Street (11:15a)

• New members in search of great book discussions and even better company are always welcome at the Simsbury Free Library’s Drop In Book Club. This month’s featured book is White Houses by Amy Bloom, a captivating account of a forbidden love affair between two women - Eleanor Roosevelt and “first friend” Lorena Hickok. Free. For more information, call 860-408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, November 14th: Simsbury Historical Society Annual Meeting – Ellsworth Center – 10 Phelps Lane (6:30p)
· Program: “Tories, Spies, and Traitors – Divided Loyalty in Revolutionary Connecticut.” By Taylor McClure of the Connecticut Historical Society. (7:00p) Free.

Friday, November 16th: Friends Coffee House - The Simsbury Public Library - 725 Hopmeadow Street– (7:30-9:00p)

• Enjoy the magical musical duo of Melanie Chirignan on flute and Scott Hill on guitar in the FSPL Program Room.

Saturday, November 17th: Simsbury Open Studios Fine Art Show & Sale – Simsbury Free Library 749 Hopmeadow (10:00a -4:00p)

• Just in time for holiday shopping, the artists of Simsbury Open Studios hold their Fine Art Show and Sale at the Simsbury Free Library. The show will feature original artwork by Lori Racicot-Burrous, Grace Epstein, Deborah Leonard, Jacie Jakubowski, Karyn Sweezy, Rita Bond, and Renee S. Hughes. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 860-408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

Monday, November 19th: “Beekeeping 101” – Simsbury Public Library – 725 Hopmeadow Street – (6:00p-7:30p)

• Beekeeping is easier than you think! Come see and hear the tricks of the trade from Hartford educator Jared Lewis. This program features refreshments and is co-sponsored by Simsbury Public Library. The event is free with RSVPs. RSVP requested on the event calendar at www.simsburylibrary.info or call 860-658-7663 x2 to register by phone.

Tuesday, November 20th: Special Preview of Simsbury Celebrates! Gingerbread House Competition – Simsbury Free Library – 749 Hopmeadow Street (11:00a-5:00p)

• The Simsbury Free Library is pleased to be hosting the Gingerbread House Competition for Simsbury Celebrates again this year. The entries and winners of these incredible works of culinary art will be on display and open for viewing during the following times:
• Tuesday, November 20: Open viewing hours 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 25: 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 29: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information, call 860-408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

Saturday, November 24th: Simsbury Celebrates! – Downtown Simsbury (5:00-8:00p)

• Stroll down Hopmeadow Street with costumed characters, carolers and entertainers for this popular free entertainment extravaganza while enjoying a firetruck parade with Santa, musical and dance performances at various venues throughout town, the gingerbread house competition, and delectable treats from local restaurants and vendors, all culminating in a spectacular Fireworks Show on Iron Horse Boulevard. Visit www.simsburycelebrates.com for more details and full schedule.

Lastly, two special events at the beginning of December that folks won’t want to miss include:

Saturday, December 1st: Homespun Christmas– Simsbury Historical Society – 800 Hopmeadow Street (12:00p – 4:00p)

• Free holiday themed activities on site sponsored by Simsbury Bank and Educational Playcare, including two Sled Painting sessions (10:00a-12:00p & 1:00-3:00p) All supplies are provided. Take your completed sled home! Cost is $40/sled. Registration is required. For more information, call 860-658-2500 or email info@simsburyhistory.org.

Saturday, December 1st: Make Recycled Book Ornaments Workshop- The Simsbury Public Library - 725 Hopmeadow Street– (2:00-3:30p)

• Nothing looks better on your Christmas tree than home-made ornaments! Adults and teens are encouraged to get their creativity on in the FSPL Program Room.

For more information on each program and activity, please visit the Simsbury Tourism Facebook page.

Established in 1911, the nonprofit Simsbury Historical Society occupies a beautiful two-acre site at 800 Hopmeadow Street. Collections include more than one dozen structures, significant regional artifacts and important period and thematic collections. The archives include materials that relate to early settlements in Connecticut, the founding of Simsbury, and the development of the surrounding region. Tour the buildings and gardens, attend a special event or visit the archives year-round. For more information call (860) 658-2500 or visit www.simsburyhistory.org.