Christmas in Warrensburgh is canceled — but local stores will be hosting holiday events

WARRENSBURG | The annual "Christmas in Warrensburgh" event that has entranced both children and adults for 31 years, is officially canceled due to the pandemic, but area businesses will individually be holding their own attractions and events on the weekend of Saturday, Dec. 4, and Sunday, Dec. 6 — with an aim of promoting traditional holiday spirit. "Toyland" will not be held in the town hall this year, but Santa will be showing up — without his live reindeer as in past years — at several businesses around town. Mask-wearing and social distancing protocol will be required. The jolly elf is posing with folks' canine and feline friends between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday for "Pet Photos with Santa" at Nemec's Sport Shop & Farm Supply at 4036 Main St. Also, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 Tommy Guns Pizzeria at 3745 Main St. will be holding their annual "Breakfast with Santa" event — with the good-humored man social-distancing. The event is to feature pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, and all the fixings. The remainder of the activities at individual businesses will be held exclusively on Saturday. The Pizza Shop at 3918 Main St. will be offering gingerbread house construction for children from 10 am. to 3 p.m. Saturday in addition their authentic varieties of pizza. Between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, local author and history buff Beth Kinghorn will be signing her new book "Toward Better Things" at Miller Antiques & More on lower Main Street. Her book offers practical instruction on how people — particularly in mid-life and beyond — can organize their belongings and downsize, step-by-step, so they can better move forward in their lives. The volume includes a chapter on smart estate planning. In addition to having on hand, their eclectic array of fine jewelry, art, home decor, and furnishings, Riverside Gallery is planning to host the Serendipity Spinners, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday, demonstrating their age-honored craft. The new Sulla Terra Bistro & Bakery will be serving a quiche luncheon in three seatings — by advance reservation only — between 10:45 a.m. and mid-afternoon with a limit of 4 people per group. They will offer cookie sampling and will be selling wood thumbprint holiday ornaments, and proceeds will go towards wreaths to be placed on graves in the Saratoga National Cemetery. Also, take-out food will be available — it must be pre-ordered, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3 or Friday, Dec. 4. To order take-out or reserve dine-in meal seatings for Saturday, call 518-696-6334. Also, Rebecca's Florist & Country Store at 3984 Main St. will be hosting guests browsing among their wide array of holiday decor as well as home furnishings and gift items. J. Gallup Farm on North Main St. near Oscar's Smoke House will be offering hot soup, their famous cold-pack pickles, and baked goods for take-out — or for consumption outdoors at their picnic table, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4. Their offerings also include prepared meals for take-out. The Warrensburgh Museum of Local History at 3754 Main St. will be hosting their special exhibit "Dress for the Holidays" along with their revolving collection of artifacts. Also, they'll likely be hosting a special holiday postal cancellation. The First United Methodist Church is to be holding a variety of activities, starting at 8 a.m., on Saturday, including their annual pancake breakfast which ends at 11 a.m. Extending until 2 p.m. will be their cookie walk, silent auction, and sale of crafts plus other handmade items. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, the Countryside Adult Home is holding a drive-through food sale — People can drive up in the facility's parking lot at 353 Schroon River Rd. and a person will take orders and deliver them right to one's vehicle. Also, Gateway Liquor in the plaza next to Price Chopper in the shop across from McDonald's Restaurant will be offering specials on their array of beverages. Krystal Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram dealership has a request that people help out with a prominent area charity. They are asking that people stop at their dealership at 4488 Route 9 north of Warrensburg, pick up an Angel or Bear tag hanging on the special Salvation Army Christmas tree that bears the name of a child or adult in need, purchase one of the gift suggestions, and bring the tag and gift back to Krystal Chrysler. Christmas in Warrensburgh's founder, Teresa Whalen, said Nov. 19 she was disappointed that the beloved holiday event with its signature Toyland — complete with live reindeer, wagon rides, tree-lighting, caroling, and acoustic concerts — would take a year's hiatus. "Our hearts are heavy, but we look forward to next year when we can gather together and share in the magic of the season," she said. Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty praised Whalen for her decades of volunteer work planning the prior 31 holiday events and said Christmas in Warrensburgh would return next year with its full slate of traditional events. "We're disappointed, but it's best for us to do whatever we can to stop the spread of the coronavirus and protect our community and guests," he said. "However, Christmas in Warrensburg will be back next year, bigger and better than ever."

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Christmas in Warrensburgh is canceled — but local stores will be hosting holiday events

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