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Gualala Arts
Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961.
Archive of past events: 2004 through 2014
Gualala Arts Center will be transformed into Gualala at Christmastime with the Jacob Foyer display of Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild Holiday Quilts, many available for sale. Coleman Hall will host Kringle's Craft Village, an array of shops festively decked for the holidays. Local vendors in period costume will be hawking their wares... handmade crafts of the kind available during the 1800's... quilts, baskets, woodcraft, folk art, pottery, weaving, knitting, soap making, jewelry of metal and beadwork, fabricated into marvelous gifts for all. Some artisans plying their trades will include demonstrations of their crafts. At The Company Store, clothing and other items offered by the Arts Center are on sale as well as delightful handmade ornaments by our own Elves' Workshop.
There will be hearty 'vittles' served at the Old Gualala Mill Cookhouse, fresh coffee, homemade chili and cornbread, clam chowder and real sourdough just like the old days.
Festival-goers will be greeted in the Foyer by our Fantasy Forest of decorated trees. These "theme" trees are for sale at Silent Auction or "Buy it Now" prices, and are perfect for a vacation home, guesthouse, child's room, or as a thoughtful gift. Some trees were decorated and donated by local businesses; others were sponsored by merchants and decorated by our own Mother Christmas and her talented crew. After the holidays, trees donated back to the Festival for "re-purposing" will qualify for a tax donation. The Festival is again hosting a Gingerbread House Contest, with entries displayed on Gingerbread Lane in the center of Kringle's Craft Village. The materials used and style run the gamut of the imaginations of our local artisan bakers. The Gingerbread Houses (decorative use only), like the trees, are for Silent Auction or "Buy it Now" prices. The registration form gives all the rules and information plus a listing of the categories. The Silent Auctions will end promptly at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Winners will be allowed to pick up their Decorated Trees or Gingerbread Houses on Sunday. The Shopper's Extravaganza Raffle is a bit different this year. There will be a raffle at 4:30 p.m. each of the two days of the Festival. A festively decorated tree will be covered with "ornaments" designed by Sharon Nickodem. On the back of each ornament will be the description of a prize donated by a local business. One of our Elf Assistants will pick an ornament off the tree, and then the winner of that prize will be drawn and announced. (Winners need not be present.) Some prizes will be on display in the Foyer, and others will be gift certificates from local businesses. There are lots of ornaments, therefore many chances to win! Tickets are $2 each, 7 for $10, and 15 for $20, available at Gualala Arts Center from November 10 until the raffle drawings.
Up the stairs to the Mohr Mezzanine is the Magical Gingerbread House, a special place for youngsters (PALS or other pre-school through 6th grade) to be entertained with craft projects, storytime with Mother Christmas, face painting, and sing-a-long caroling while parents browse the festival. Santa's elves will be on hand to supervise the art projects and other age appropriate activities. On Friday at high noon, Santa Claus himself will arrive to hear children's Christmas wishes or two and pose for pictures. Photos are $10 per pose for one 5" x 7" and 2 wallet-sized pictures. Elf Photographer Rob Diefenbach will be taking photos from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Friday ONLY! Photo tokens will be sold at the Festival entrance. (Santa plans to stop by again on Saturday during the Festival, but the photos are available on Friday only.) This year the Festival will be treated to the sounds of live music on both days. Wayne Harris on his three acoustic guitars and harmonica will be playing in various locations and times during the Festival on both days. (Wayne also entertained during Art in the Redwoods). The Ernest Bloch Bell Ringer Quartet are presenting one show mid-day on both Friday and Saturday in the Jacob Foyer. The Quartet is comprised of Bell Ringer leader Jeanne Jackson and three generations: Sita Milchev, her daughter Lucienne Allen and 10 year old granddaughter Davina Allen (who also 'moonlights' as one of our elf-helpers!).
Live entertainment and other aspects of the Festival of Trees
The public is also invited to the Shops & Galleries Holiday Showcase exhibit in the Burnett Gallery, November 10 through December 2, featuring local art and merchandise available during the Holiday season in Mendonoma Coast shops and galleries from Sea Ranch to Manchester. Most of the showcase items (or similar ones) will be available in the stores and galleries listed in the free flyer and map available during the exhibit. Please join us for an opening reception, Saturday, November 10 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wines from Festival Sponsor La Crema.
The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA, |
Gualala Arts' Festival of Trees Marketplace held over the Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the "Christmas on the Coast" Holiday Season for Gualala and the surrounding Mendonoma Coast community. Both a fundraising event for Gualala Arts and a community celebration, the Festival is a two-day event for residents and visitors that steps back in time to the 1850's when Gualala was founded as a mid-century mill town.
No one needs to be thirsty either with Stage Road Saloon offering such libations as hot-spiced apple cider and for adults only, our legendary Scrumpy.
Mrs. Claus Bake Shoppe & Confectionery provides cookies, candies, holiday breads, puddings and fruitcake for sale to munch on site or in festive wrappings, to take home or give as gifts.
