This month: Celebrating the Castle holiday program. Scott Jezek and family have loaned vintage Christmas cards for display at the Castle. Many thanks to our many volunteers and friends who helped make the holiday program happen.

The Castle is open for the holidays!

  • Thanks to a lot of hard work from some Friends and lots of "Friends of Friends," the Castle is decorated for the holidays. The Castle is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends now through Christmas. Make your reservations online now to ensure that you get a spot. The Castle was sold out on Thanksgiving weekend.

  • Our enthusiastic thanks to the many contributors who made this effort possible (keep reading below).
William and Helen Gillette in front of the elegant tree decorated by the Hadlyme Country Market
Two Wrasslin' Cats have fun with Santa on the third floor of the Castle
Our youngest holiday volunteer on the carpet of the Castle great room.
Jezek vintage card collection on display
  • Scott Jezek and family loaned their vintage card collection to the Castle. This beautiful collection was started 10 years ago and organizing a yearly public display has been a labor of love for both Scott and his wife Shea. The collection can be seen in the third-floor library of the Castle. A life-sized Santa also graces the Visitor Center courtesy of the Jezeks. Read our press release for more details.
Gathering in the Visitor Center are (from left) Park Supervisor John "Jack" Hine; Wendy Vincent, former Friends president and leader of this year's holiday program; and Shea and Scott Jezek with several of their vintage Christmas cards. Photograph courtesy of Kelly Hunt, Cherish the Moment Photography
Many thanks to our many friends!
One HUGE shout-out to the many local organizations and individuals that helped get the Castle ready for the holidays!

Three cheers to former president Wendy Vincent for leading the charge and coordinating it all!
 
Room decorations: Hadlyme Country Market, Goodspeed’s Station Country Store, the Eight Mile River and Scenic Watershed, I-Park Foundation, Hadlyme Hall Garden Club, Two Wrasslin' Cats Coffeehouse, Higher Grounds Coffeehouse, Stahley Farms, Tri-town Cub Scout Pack 13, Friends of Hammonasset State Park and Friends of Machimoodus-Sunrise State Park. The Castle looks great and we couldn't have done it without you!

Our interpreters Harold “Tyke” and Theodora “Teddie” Niver deserve a huge thanks for their many scheduled and unscheduled visits to the Castle as William and Helen Gillette. The Nivers will be on hand Sunday afternoons through Christmas to greet visitors inside the Castle.

Many musicians and other performers are expected to appear on weekends throughout the season. Our schedule is still in flux. We will give a shout-out to them all in the January newsletter.

Many thanks to the many park staff who ensured that the Castle was cleaned and organized for the event, and who are on duty each weekend to welcome visitors.

Three cheers to Brandi Altergott and her staff who have established a cosy spot (the stone building near the stage area) where visitors to enjoy hot cider, cocoa and snacks during their visit. Proceeds from the cider and cocoa sales go to the Friends, so we encourage everyone to drop by for a visit!

Don't forget some holiday gift hunting at the Seventh Sister Gift Shop (all proceeds support the Friends).

Lastly, our thanks go out to the myriad Friends members and volunteers who helped with all sorts of miscellaneous tasks: our pencil-sharpeners, cider-sourcers, part-time docents, sign-makers, holiday bow-tiers, and fill-in decorators. We couldn't do this without you!!
Sherlock shout-out. Sherlock is thrilled to welcome new members/recent donor Deborah T.!