“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
by Amy Modesti
Most remember that magnificent song performed by Andy Williams and composed by George Kyle and Edward Pola, and it certainly defines the holiday season, kicked off in Grafton by the annual Festival of Trees. Held once again at Greywacke Meadows (aka The Wedding Barn), attendance was sure to help inspire you to decorate your own Christmas Tree, listen to holiday music and instill the spirit in the old and young.
2020 has certainly brought with it many new and unique challenges, but it did not stop the shoppers who came to peruse the many homemade crafts and gifts, as well as helping to pick out the winning trees in each category. These winners are listed below.
“We had a great turnout of ornately, decorated trees,” said Jane McDermott, the manager of Greywacke Meadows. This year’s tree lineup created by children, adults, and Grafton organizations included “Curly Christmas” (business), “Let It Snow” (Adult), “Jesus Tree” (Adult), “Vintage Christmas” (adult), “Hunting for Christmas” (Child), “Activities at the Senior Center” (business-Grafton Senior Center), “The Tree I Grew Up With” (Adult), “Unicorn Dreams” (Child-Grafton Youth Program), “Metal Art” (Adult), “First Responders” (Organization-Grafton Volunteer Ambulance), “Cock a Doodle Christmas..” (Adult), “Life’s A Witch” (Adult), “Sweet Christmas” (Adult), “Red Truck Christmas” (Adult), “Save the Turtles” (by Amanda Mason), “Love Changes Everything,” and “Sew Many Memories,” inspired in memory of Marjorie Grandjean.
Event founder, Donna Walker, started the festival of trees around 9 or 10 years ago at the Grafton Senior Center. Once it outgrew that location, the event traveled around the town to the former Grafton Elementary School and to Greywacke Meadows. Ms. Walker was pleased with the event’s success and called each of these trees her babies. “We have a fantastic assortment of trees, many talented vendors, and it’s been a very busy day” Walker exclaimed.
You cannot be without those holiday gifts and crafts to place underneath your tree. Graywacke Meadows had plenty of these products to sell to customers that ranged from candles, holiday wreaths created by Karen Roberts, candle holders, wooden and stained-glass ornaments, knitted winter hats and gloves, paintings, to home-made masks. There were plenty of items for guests to purchase and stock up on for the holiday season.
Jennifer Newton, volunteer at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, was on-location selling home-made crafts made by other Capital Region artists. Proceeds from the products sold went directly to the humane society. “There’s been very few craft fairs,” mentioned Newton, and with these craft fairs being few and far between due to the pandemic, it has been difficult for artists and craft vendors to sell their products to the public. Newton will later join another organization, Out of the Pits, and other local animal groups for a future craft fair at the Brunswick Harley Davidson on November 29, to further sell the artists’ work and advocate for the animals. Newton sent her thanks out to Greywacke Meadows for having them at their event and thanked the remaining vendors for joining them today.
The 2020 “Festival of Trees and Craft Fair” was a huge success. Like Greywacke Meadows on Facebook to stay tuned to updates and future events. For more information about Greywacke Meadows, head to their website: www.greywackemeadows.com.