11/18/2021
If you live in the Finger Lakes and aren’t in the festive mood quite yet, there’s only one place to go to jumpstart the holiday season: Skaneateles. Two upcoming community events are ready to complement the season-long celebration of Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles.
First up, on the evening of Friday, December 3, the community will gather for Skaneateles Sings.
Organized by the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Skaneateles Garden Club, this program starts at 6 p.m. at the Skaneateles Library, with Father Christmas and Mother Goose greeting children and posing for photos. At 6:30 p.m., the Rev. Becky Coerper, rector at St. James Episcopal Church, will dedicate the crèche in a candlelit ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by candlelit caroling with the Dickens characters; lighting of the Christmas tree and remarks at the gazebo; and an open house at village stores, many of which will celebrate First Friday.
In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, participants are asked to wear a mask while singing and while indoors.
“The chamber would like to extend a special thank-you to Strawberry Fields, which donated the Christmas trees for the Masonic Temple and the gazebo, and the Girl Scouts, who decorated the gazebo tree,” says executive director Hilary Fenner. “We’d also like to thank the village and town for their financial support of the decorations and the Village Electric Department for its help in putting up the decorations, which will be enjoyed by the community all season long.”
The fun doesn’t stop there.
On Tuesday, December 7 the festivities will continue with Shop Skaneateles throughout the day, as well as Shop, Sip and Stroll from 5 to 8 p.m. Many village shops will offer free gift-wrapping and refreshments. In the evening, parking will be free village wide.
Merchants offering specials that night include:
- Emma + James – $20 gift card for use on a future purchase with every $100 spent
- The Wandering Kind –15 percent off full-price styles
- Imagine – refreshments, and an entry to win a giveaway with purchase
- Rhubarb – savings on Swiss Diamond Cookware, Wusthof Cutlery and Cuisinart. Follow the shop on Facebook and Instagram for more holiday specials.
- DROOZ and Company – complimentary gift bags and gift tags
- Sea Culture Brand and Sakran & Shaw – 15 percent off all merchandise
- Nest 58 – 10 percent off all merchandise
- The Savage Homestead – holiday shopping by candlelight, with festive refreshments. Buy 3 Get 1 Free on select candles and soaps and complimentary gift wrapping.
- The Local Branch – $10 gift card with purchases over $100, $20 gift card with purchases over $250, $50 gift card with purchases over $500. Gift cards valid through December 31, 2021.
In addition to all of that, anyone making a purchase that evening will have their choice of a free drink from the Blue Water Grill, Sherwood Inn or Finger Lakes on Tap (New York State glass of wine or New York State draft beer) or 15 percent off a bottle of wine at the Village Bottle Shop.
Shop Skaneateles is sponsored by the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. For more specials, go to http://www.skaneateles.com.
