Community Corner

Mathews Park Selected by City of Norwalk for Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Dec. 6

City of Norwalk will light its tree this year in Mathews Park, hub of the city.

Mathews Park, on West Avenue in Norwalk, will be the scene of music, merriment and mirth on Friday evening, December 6, when the city lights the town holiday tree.  

The event will also celebrate the cultural riches of the city with the five cultural organizations that call Mathews Park home: Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.

Events occur throughout the park from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m.  

Enjoy the a cappella singing of the Connecticut Yuletide Carollers, musical performances of some ageless holiday favorites by the string quartet Augmented 4 from Norwalk's Talent Education Suzuki School and a visit from the man in red himself!

Mathews Park was chosen as the location for this year's festivities as it is has become a true cultural campus in Norwalk, which was further solidified when the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County (CAFC) chose the Gate Lodge in the Park as its new home earlier this year.

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a non-profit regional service organization that supports cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses throughout Fairfield County.  CAFC also provides promotional and marketing services to the arts and cultural sector via its website www.FCBuzz.org<http://www.FCBuzz.org>, the best place to find out what is happening in Fairfield County.

Combined, the five cultural organizations based in Mathews Park, present a myriad of happenings throughout the holiday season for young and old to enjoy. For the occasion, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will remain open to the public for the evening and offer half-price, ($5) mini-tours and hot chocolate and cider. Visitors can view holiday decorations throughout the museum, including magnificent hand-crafted silk garlands which adorn the entire length of the grand staircase. The grand entrance hall, the billiards room, and the 14 - foot Christmas tree on the landing of the Staircase, will be splendidly adorned with lights and decorations.  And period rooms, throughout the Mansion, will have exhibits telling the evolving story of the Christmas tree and its decorations.

Across the lawn, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking is holding a Holiday Preview Night and will remain open to the public until 8 pm for a festive evening.  Visitors can preview the new exhibit of the fanciful and colorful etchings and mixed media works by Connecticut Artist Kees De Waal. Small original prints art books, and gift certificates for workshops are available for sale in the Center's holiday gift display. Light refreshments, cookies and hot mulled cider (non-alcoholic) will be served after 5:00 p.m..

And right next door is Stepping Stones Museum for Children, which offers a sleighful of exciting events and activities through January 5th.  The holidays are definitely happening at Stepping Stones. There is an outdoor sock rink, a play-sized igloo, an Elf Workshop where holiday-themed crafts are made, a special holiday hand bell performance, holiday characters galore - and so much more.  So bring the family to join in on some hands-on activities, enjoy the museum's whimsical winter wonderland, and take a lot of photos when the North Pole comes to Stepping Stones.

Enjoy the music and the magic of the season while you wander through the beautiful grounds of the estate, hopefully under a velvety black sky studded with glowing stars. Many events and happenings for the arts and cultural organizations throughout the city - and Fairfield County, can be found, throughout the holiday season, onwww.FCBuzz.org<http://www.FCBuzz.org>


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