Weekend's festival events pay tribute to holidays past

By Josette Keelor

Area holiday events this weekend provide a historical twist on Christmas preparations.

On Friday and Saturday Front Royal will celebrate its ninth Christkindlmarkt, which will feature holiday crafts, music and food for all ages. The market will open at 4 p.m. Friday, with the grand opening beginning at 6 p.m. and Mayor Timothy W. Darr and his wife Tammy arriving by carriage. Following a ribbon cutting, The Silent "Monks" of the Shenandoah will perform the "Hallelujah Chorus." Shopping and Music by Mike will commence at 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, events will include a pancake and sausage breakfast with the Kiwanis Club at E. Wilson Morrison School from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., a moustache and beard competition at the center stage at noon, Paws and Claus pet photos with Santa from noon to 4 p.m. and Downtown Front Royal Christmas from 4 to 5:15 p.m.

For more information, visit http://ckmfrontroyal.com.

In New Market Saturday the Virginia Museum of the Civil War will hold Christmas on the Farm from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a special presentation at 1 p.m.

The event remembers the Battle of New Market, which took place in 1864 on what was the Bushong family farm. Living history exhibits will bring to life the Christmases of 1859 and 1864.

Visitors may be invited to lend a hand with chores at a re-enactment of a military encampment and join in the celebration of family holiday traditions from the period. Activities will include making tree ornaments and cards to send to U.S. service men and women overseas, as well as a special screening of "Old Time Christmas from the Shenandoah Valley" with live period music in the museum theater at 1 p.m.

Regular admission is $10 for ages 13 to 64, $9 for ages 65 and older, $6 for ages 6 to 12, and free for ages 5 and younger. Donations of a non-perishable food item for an area food bank will earn 50 percent off of regular admission.

For more email, Stacey R. Nadeau at nadeausr@vmi.edu.

New Market also will hold its Christmas parade this weekend. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday on Congress Street. For more information, visit http://newmarketvirginia.com.

Woodstock's 13th Light up Woodstock celebration will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday as part of its Discover Christmas in Woodstock event. With a parade at 6:30 p.m. and tree lighting event at 6:45 p.m., the night will bring choral music, wagon rides, hot chocolate and a visit with Santa to the downtown. For more information, visit www.townofwoodstockva.gov.

In Edinburg, the annual Holiday Sparkle Gala and Auction will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday to raise funds for the Historic Edinburg Mill. Tickets are $50 each. For more information, call Kelli Hart at 459-1700, ext. 213.

Contact Community Engagement Editor Josette Keelor at 540-465-5137, ext. 176, or jkeelor@nvdaily.com