Congratulations Susie Smith and Ken Hughes for organizing a successful and thoroughly enjoyable Christmas in Essex 2017! Great pre-event messaging, perfect weather, efficient move-in and move-out, good flow and impressive attendance, diverse vendors, well distributed and executed activities, and some of the friendliest shoppers ever. Susie and Ken have been planning and organizing and communicating about The Magic of Christmas in Essex pretty much year round, and their experience is certainly paying off. I hope that we’re all remembering to express our gratitude so that they’ll continue to fine tune this annual tradition.

With Essex looking postcard perfect (snow, snow!) exactly ten days before Santa’s global ultra marathon, I’d to offer just a couple of snapshots from last Saturday. If you have any photos, videos, or words that you would like to add, please let me know. I’ll happily update the page with your perspective.

Merry Music at Christmas in Essex 2017

Morning moods were made merry by this band of minstrels.

I only wish I had managed to record more singing. But, you know, batteries…

John Davis Pre-Releases New Book

After 3+ years of blog posts about the wilds and wild critters in and around Essex, John Davis adapted the popular series into a 160 page book, Split Rock Wildway: Scouting the Adirondack Park’s Most Diverse Wildlife Corridor. Essex Editions pre-released the enchanting illustrated book (artwork by Bill Amadon, Sheri Amsel, Larry Barns, Steven Kellogg, Roderick MacIver, Larry Master, and Kevin Raines) in time for Christmas in Essex 2017, and a more formal launch event will be scheduled late spring / early summer 2018. If you haven’t yet watched the Split Rock Wildway book trailer | Essex on Lake Champlain, check it out now. Kudos to Brett Essler for creating this masterpiece!

If you look carefully, you can see John’s book on the right side of our display table.

Many of John’s collaborators stopped by to visit and celebrate the book. This trio was documented by Sharon Marchessault, one of the carolers performing in the video above. Bill Amadon (center) contributed paintings, and Larry Barns (right) contributed photographs to John’s Split Rock Wildway book.

Very Merry Vendors

I anticipated circulating through the CFES Building to check out (and photograph) all of the other vendors once we completed setup for our Essex Editions display. But eager shoppers arrived far earlier than anticipated, and my documentary prowess was dented. Almost no evidence at all of the capacity crowd of artisans and artists and farmers helping holiday shoppers find that perfect gift. Sorry! (Note: I’m hoping that a few photos might trickle in so that I can update this post. Did you take any photos? Please let me know. Thanks.)

Delicious Dak Bar was well represented by event co-organizer Susie Smith.

Reber Rock Farm‘s delicious display was well stocked with local goodies.

Reber Rock Farm‘s Racey Henderson doubled down on holiday hope and handicrafts with a colorful collection of bathrobes, rugs, lampshades, and placemats from Ndara, her recent startup based in Central the African Republic.

Christmas in Essex 2017 and Beyond

Do you have a story to tell (or photos to share, etc.) from Christmas in Essex 2017? Please contact us, and we’ll happily add your perspective to this post. Thanks.

If you’re looking for information about Christmas in Essex, visit www.christmasinessex.com.

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