Last year’s Woodstock Holiday Open House was a big hit, with its extended hours that allowed parents with young children to visit Santa at the Chamber of Commerce booth on Rock City Road in the afternoon. As always, the evening hours give Woodstockers the opportunity to stroll the sparkling streets and shop at the many stores remaining open for the event. And as always, fun festivities will go on all over the village, including a cozy bonfire with s’mores, live bands and musicians, carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more surprises to come.
Santa will be in-situ to spread the joy from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, and again from 6 to 8. Ice-carving will take place on the Village Green in front of Lily’s from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Victorian Carolers, courtesy of Woodstock Playhouse, will sing their way through town from 4 to 5 p.m., with a dramatic tree-lighting on the Village Green at 4:30.
Live music performances with the Paul Green Rock Academy start at 5 and 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Nancy Tierney & the Boys jazz it up at the Woodstock Artists Association from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the Kingston Catholic School Singers will roam from 6 to 7:30. See Babes in Toyland at 7:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Playhouse, with a meet-and-greet by Santa Claus and Mother Goose in the Winter Wonderland after the performance.
Mirabai Bookstore’s trunk show will feature Day Moon Handmade Natural Crystal Wands, while local artisans Natalia Rose Miner and Ais Ryan perform music throughout the evening. All this and a Mirabai tradition: curried nuts! At Candlestock, the popcorn truck will keep it poppin’ all afternoon and evening. From 5 to 8 p.m., it’s “Drop and Shop” at Mountainview Studio. Drop your kids off for hip hop, karate and boxing, while you enjoy the freedom to bop from shop to shop. A bonfire with s’mores will blaze next to the Chamber booth from 5 to 9 p.m., while Mrs. Claus does face-painting at H. Houst & Sons.
And from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., join the Holiday Restaurant Crawl at the Lodge, the Barn at Cucina, A & P, Landau, Garden Café of Woodstock, Yum Yum, Colony, Woodstock Pizza Theater and Trattoria, the Station, Joshua’s Café, Shindig, Silvia and the R & R Taproom. Eateries will offer $5 food and beverage specials for red-band-wearers, as well as discount coupons for future dining experiences. A shuttle van will be available. To get your red band prior to December 2, call (845) 679-9979 or e-mail mari@evolvedinteriors.com. An afterparty will keep spirits high at the Barn at Cucina at 9 p.m.
Come see the window displays and take advantage of special deals and sales, refreshments and holiday snacks on Tinker Street in Woodstock from 3 to 9 p.m. For more info, call (845) 679-6234 or visit www.woodstockchamber.com, and watch for updated information on the Woodstock Facebook page.
Join the family! 
