Giving Back At Grace Farms – Christmas Joy At The River Will Offer Opportunities For The Public To Serve The Community During The Holiday Season

Press Release – NEW CANAAN, Conn., Nov. 23, 2016 — From Dec. 10–23, Grace Farms will offer opportunities for the public to collaborate for good during Christmas Joy at the River with charitable and community programs. The seasonal programs will offer a contemplative space and a taste of the Christmas season with music (traditional and jazz), readings, and holiday gifts for Neighbors Link, Malta House, local homebound seniors, and the International Institute of Connecticut (IICONN).

A Community Dinner on Dec. 16 will feature a special meal ($10 adults, $6 kids) with holiday music from local jazz artists Rob Fried and Hot Sauce, joined by Tyger MacNeal and Doug Hartline. During the After Dinner program, Gifting for Good, people can help assemble and wrap holiday packages with family and friends by donating $20 for blankets, toiletries, and other essential items to benefit local immigrant families through the not-for-profit Neighbor’s Link. For the month of December, the public can participate in giving to newly resettled refugees through a Giving Tree in the Library. On Dec. 13 and 20, New Canaan’s own Service League of Boys (SLOBS) will bake holiday cookies and pastries in the Commons kitchen for homebound seniors in the area and Malta House in Norwalk.

SLOBs of New Canaan will bake cookies in the Grace Farms kitchen for the Malta House in Norwalk and homebound seniors in New Canaan.

© Vanessa Van Ryzin, 2016

Grace Farms will also host fireside readings, holiday piano arrangements, a Poetry Potluck, a moonlit stroll, and an afternoon 3-on-3 Christmas Cup basketball tournament. Visitors can come to one event, wander along the River to experience a variety of activities, or enjoy a quiet hour in the Sanctuary with the winter view of surrounding meadows and woodlands.

A brief overview of Christmas Joy programming follows; a complete listing with registration information can be found at gracefarms.org/calendar.

Fireside Stories

December 10, 4–6 pm, C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

December 17, 12–4 pm, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Gather around the fire and listen as staff members read aloud with hot cider and snacks.

Songs of the Season

Dec. 14–23, Tuesday through Saturday, 2–3 pm

Listen to improvisational arrangements of Christmas carols performed by pianists Lisa Lynne Kirkpatrick, Karen Nisenson, and Joyce DiCamillo on the Sanctuary stage. These peaceful selections, along with our expansive winter views, will create an environment for reflection and contemplation during the holiday season.

Moonlit Stroll

Dec. 14, 5:30–6:30 pm

Admire the full moon at Grace Farms with a stroll along the River building. Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, will lead participants in a conversation around the fire in the Library about the moon’s phases and how they affect our environment, followed by a moonlit stroll.

December Community Dinner featuring holiday jazz

Dec. 16, 6–7:30 pm

After Dinner | Gifting for Good

Dec. 16, 7:30–8:30 pm, $20 donation

Join us to assemble holiday packages to benefit local immigrant families through Neighbor’s Link.

Gifting for Good

Dec. 17, 12–4 pm

Join volunteers in assembling holiday packages to benefit local immigrant families through Neighbor’s Link. Donate $20 to provide a box of blankets, toiletries, and other essential items in the West Barn. Special tea tastings will be offered.

Poetry Potluck

Dec. 20, 6–8 pm

This holiday season, join us in the Library for a potluck of favorite poems. Bring a beloved poem printed out to share and enjoy the poetic offerings of others.

Christmas Cup

Dec. 23 2–6 pm

Bring family and friends together in teams of four for Grace Farms’ Christmas Cup, a friendly basketball tournament in the Court for teens, returning college students, and adults. This free 3 vs. 3 tournament will begin at 2 pm with 7-point half-court games in a double-elimination bracket. Twelve teams can be accommodated. Advance registration is required.

Grace Farms is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am–6 pm and Sunday from 12–6 pm. Visit gracefarms.org/calendar for registration and for more information on all of the Christmas Joy programs.

Holiday Hours

Dec. 24­–26 | Closed

Dec. 27–31 | Open 10 am–4 pm

Jan. 1–4 | Closed

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