November 29, 2011
Capture the Spirit of the Season in Historic Lenox, Massachusetts
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Lenox, Mass. - Take a break from the mall and the crowded sidewalks and head to the Lenox Caroling Festival December 10th & 11th for a weekend of traditional holiday fun in historic Lenox, Mass.
Decked out in holiday splendor, the streets of this quaint Berkshires village will be filled with holiday music sung by singing groups from throughout the Northeast. The festival is one of several holiday activities planned throughout the weekend to celebrate the spirit of the season.
The caroling competition will be held on Saturday (12/10) from 10 am to 4 pm with each group performing at least one 15-minute set at one of several street locations throughout the village. Winners will be decided by a combination of popular vote and a panel of professional judges. The public is invited to attend a Caroler's Reception emceed by Gene Shalit of the Today Show at 5:30 pm at Shakespeare & Company's Bernstein Theatre which will feature festive food, a sing-a-long and an awards presentation.
Also scheduled that weekend, Shakespeare & Company will perform David Sedaris' "The Santaland Diaries" based on his short story about working as an elf during the holidays at Macy's Department Store. Performances are on Friday (12/9) & Saturday (12/10) at 7:30 pm and matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday (12/11) at 2 pm. The performance is suitable for ages 13 and up. Purchase tickets in advance at www.Shakespeare.org or by calling the box office (413) 637-3353.
On Sunday, the Lenox Memorial Library will host a Gingerbread House Competition from 1-3 pm with entries from some of the Berkshires' most creative chefs. A silent auction of all the entries will be held with proceeds benefiting the library. There will be refreshments and a kid's areas for on-the-spot creating. Additional information is available on the Library website, www.lenoxlib.org.
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will be open all weekend for tours from 10 am to 3 pm each day. The restored Gilded Age era "Cottage" currently features a Berkshire Designer Showcase and Les Petites Dames de Mode (Little Ladies of Fashion); half-life sized "ladies" wearing handmade costumes that portray the history of women's fashion from 1855 to 1914 in exquisite detail. Visit www.gildedage.org for more information.
Singing groups can apply for the caroling competition through the event's website or by downloading the application and sending it to the Lenox Caroling Festival, 81 Church Street, Lenox, MA 01240.
Additional information including a list of village inns, shops and restaurants offering special festival discounts can be found on the event's website www.lenoxcarolingfestival.org
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
