Bethel

It’s beginning to look like Christmas in Bethel. Wreaths are hung on the lamp posts and Christmas trees are up on the Common and in the field on Lower Main Street. Christmas lights are already on at Ruthie’s and Maine Line Products on Main Street. Country Christmas in Bethel begins this weekend and goes through Christmas. Events kick off on Friday, Nov. 23, with the Local Craft and Wares Fair at the Bethel Inn Resorts Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A complete list of Country Christmas events is on the Chamber of Commerce website at www.bethelmaine.com or here in the Citizen. Don’t miss one of my favorite events: Every Saturday from now until Christmas there will be wagon rides around Bethel from 1 to 3 p.m. You can catch the wagon across from the Common next to the Chapman Inn.

The Christmas trees have arrived at Lowell’s Saw Shop on Route 26 across from Telstar. Proceeds from tree sales go to help GreenStock Snowsports Snowmobile Club with trail grooming expenses. The club maintains and grooms a network of more than 70 miles of trails and oversees the maintenance and grooming of an additional 30 miles of trails in Bethel. Each year the club sells about 300 trees. The shop will be open for tree sales Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m.

The Senior College Players have been practicing all month for their two upcoming Christmas plays: “Memories of a Wonderful Life” by Jonathan M. Zaley and “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas. Director Lynn Arizzi said that these are audience-participation plays. Audience members will have a chance to join the cast on stage or just join them in song. The plays will be presented on Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Moses Mason House, 14 Broad Street in Bethel. The Senior College Players are presenting these plays as a holiday gift to the community and admission is free. However, donations will be accepted to help with the royalty fees.

The monthly hymn sing at the Pinhook Meeting House on Route 232 in Woodstock will take place on Friday, Nov. 23, from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by refreshments. The Meeting House Memorial Christmas Tree will be lit during the hymn sing. Everyone is welcome.

If you have news you’d like to share, call me at 824-2483 or e-mail nancybrown1150@yahoo.com.