Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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A homeowner on Hawks Hill Road interrupted an attempt to steal items from their vehicle, as reported to police at 3:46 p.m. on Dec. 14. The incident is under investigation. 

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Saturday is the final New Canaan Farmers Market, running 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lumberyard Lot by the train station downtown. ***

Here’s a roundup of Christmas services in New Canaan:

Congregational Church of New Canaan (“God’s Acre” podcast here)

Dec. 24

4 p.m. family service with nativity pageant;
6 p.m. worship service;
6:30 p.m. caroling on God’s Acre;
7 p.m. worship service;
11 p.m. candlelight worship service.

Around Town

A History of Christmas Caroling at God’s Acre

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Caroling at God’s Acre for Christmas is one of New Canaan’s most cherished events of the year, a nostalgic, Rockwellian gathering that brings the community together unlike any other celebration. A sacred and treasured tradition, the Christmas Eve gathering distinguishes New Canaan from surrounding towns. Held on the plot of land above which the Congregational Church was built—the institution upon which the town was founded—the caroling sees scores of New Canaanites descend each year on what literally is hallowed ground, as it is believed many of New Canaan’s settlers are still buried at God’s Acre. But how did it start, and when? The first documented instance of caroling at God’s Acre occurred on Christmas Eve in 1916, according to historian Mary Louise King’s book Portrait of New Canaan, published by the New Canaan Historical Society.

News

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police are investigating the theft of an unlocked vehicle with the keys inside, stolen from a Wahackme Lane driveway. ***

The Holiday Stroll is here, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The hot “pregame” ticket is at The Glass House Design Store (199 Elm St.). It will be open with a 10% off sale from 1 to 5:30 p.m., with Prosecco served during a special presentation at 4 p.m. by store manager and buyer Dominica P. Baharian. Here’s some good background on the Holiday Stroll.

Around Town

‘Holiday Stroll’ Coming Friday and Saturday [Q&A]

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This year’s Holiday Stroll kicks off at about 5 p.m. Friday and rolls into Saturday, all day. (Note that The Glass House Design Store will be open with a 10% off sale from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, with Prosecco served during a special presentation at 4 p.m. by store manager and buyer Dominica P. Baharian.)

We put some questions to Laura Budd, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the popular event. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: The 2024 Holiday Stroll is set for this Friday and Saturday. Before we get into the details, please give our readers an overview. What is the Stroll and what makes it so popular?

Around Town

NEAD’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Set for Dec. 13 to 15 [Q&A]

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New Canaan’s New England Academy of Dance is preparing to put on its popular holiday performances of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 13 to 15 at New Canaan High School. As part of our periodic series profiling local nonprofit organizations (see past installments here and here), we put some questions to Jennifer Kurtz, chair of the ballet school’s nonprofit arm, New England Dance Theater. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: The calendar has turned to December, and for several decades in New Canaan what that means, among other things, is that the New England Academy of Dance is putting on “The Nutcracker” (to run Dec.