Month: December 2023

Enjoy the Varied Sounds of the Season…

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This is a good weekend to enjoy the sounds of the season – dulcimers, choral groups, and the sounds of folks talking with local crafts people.

The Indian Valley Dulcimer Society will be playing holiday music, Sounds of the Season, Saturday morning, December 9th, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 12 noon, at the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library (350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA). This event will be held on the main floor, amongst the books (so feel free to browse for new books to borrow, while listening to the music), and is free and open to all ages.

The Upper Perkiomen High School A Choir will be joining the Valley Choral Society in singing Festive Carols in the King’s College Tradition at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 10th at New Goshenhoppen UCC (1070 Church Road, East Greenville, PA). This concert is free and open to the public – no tickets required (a good will offering will be received).

The 40th Annual Christmas Bazaar at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sumneytown (3104 Main Street) is Saturday, December 9th, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. There is no admission charge, and there will be crafters, vendors, hot lunch for sale, and a cookie walk (a wide assortment of homemade cookies, sold by the pound).

Speakeasy Coffee Company (875 Main Street, Pennsburg, PA) is hosting its first ever Christmas Maker’s Market this Saturday, December 9th from noon – 6 p.m. No admission price (though why not get something hot to drink while browsing?) Local artists’ creations will be on sale, including candles, pottery, linoleum block printed shirts, and more!

And mark your calendars now so as not to miss the upcoming concerts showcasing our talented student musicians in the Upper Perkiomen School District; so many concerts, featuring bands, strings, orchestras, and choral groups, starting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, through Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. Concerts are free and open to the public, and held in several different locations – the Upper Perk High School (2 Walt Road, Pennsburg, PA), the Upper Perk Middle School (901 Montgomery Avenue, Pennsburg, PA), and the Upper Perk 4-5 Center (510 Jefferson Street, East Greenville, PA) – so make sure to check which one is where before heading out!

Don’t Stay Home on the First Weekend in December!

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While the rain is not inspiring for the first day of December, there are plenty of indoor local events worth dropping by over the weekend, including live music performances all over the Valley, craft fairs, holiday museum displays (and decorated trees), and an opportunity to visit an artist’s studio and talk with the artists themselves!

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 is the PTFS sponsored Upper Perk Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Upper Perkiomen Middle School (901 Montgomery Avenue, Pennsburg, PA). Over 80 crafters and vendors, along with food and drinks for sale, raffle baskets, a new book fair and a bake sale supporting the school, are all expected to be present. The bazaar is free and open to the public.

Enjoy live holiday music by local musicians, view the exhibits, and maybe do a little shopping (while enjoying roasted chestnuts and other winter treats) at The Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center Christmas Market  (105 Seminary Street, East Greenville, PA) and the Goshenhoppen Historians Pennsylvania German Christmas Market at Red Man’s Hall (116 Gravel Pike aka Rt 29 and 63, Green Lane, PA) are both on Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd, 2023 (9:30 – 4 Saturday and noon – 4 Sunday). The museums and markets are open to the public and admission is free.

The first weekend in December is the annual Christmas Market (at Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center) featuring sales of folk art, small crafts, books, and gifts for children and adults. Pam Smith returns with her special jewelry, and we will have a rummage table too.

Besides shopping, there are special activities. The Christmas Putz exhibit, a traditional Pennsylvania German village scene, returns in two locations this year. On Saturday, the first 50 children ages 4-12 will have the opportunity to build and take home a brick built Christmas Tree from a kit containing genuine LEGO® pieces. In the afternoons, enjoy holiday music. On Saturday, members of the Red Hill Band will entertain us, and on Sunday at 1:30pm, festive tunes of the season will be presented by the students of Harmony Corner Music under the direction of Cynthia Hector.

Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center

Local renowned artists Brad Hendershot and Katy Krieg are opening their doors to the public for their annual Holiday Open Studio (Hoppenville House, 5455 Hoppenville Road, Green Lane, PA), from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd, 2023. No admission charge, and all are welcome.

We open our doors to visitors on December 2 and 3 for all of your art gifting needs! This year, Katy and Brad will have original works and prints available, as well as class sign-ups. We will have some new framed bird images in mini print sizes and some new unframed prints as well.

Payel Girwarr – a favorite local musician who has performed at nearly every Make Music Upper Perk since the beginning in 2013 – will be performing at Java & Friends (254 Main Street, East Greenville, PA) on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, from noon to one.