Williamstown Holiday Walk Weekend Is Underway

The 36th annual Williamstown Holiday Walk is this weekend, with more family fun than ever on the schedule.

Appearing on our "Community Insight" show this week, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susan Briggs said while the Chamber coordinates the schedule, many events are actually sponsored by other groups or businesses to benefit local charities, which helps put the focus on "giving back" to the community.

The weekend starts off with an Art & Flea Pop-Up Shop on Spring Street today from 10-6, which will continue tomorrow & Sunday. The Clark will feature The Cassatt Quartet tonight at 7. Events will continue through Sunday, including a Pancake Breakfast in the Williamstown Elementary cafeteria from 9-Noon and the WES Craft Show from 9-4 in the school's gym.

Most of the festivities are packed into Saturday. Some of the highlights are the Reindeer 5K Fun Run starting at 9 A.M., free showings of "Elf" at Images Cinema at 11 A.M. & 1 P.M., ABC's Festive Winter and Holiday Clothing Sale along with the Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity Tree Showcase at 1st Congregational Church, the Penny Social & BCAC toy drive at Lasell Gym, lots of festive music all along Spring Street, refreshments and much more. The annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at the Thompson Memorial Chapel happens this weekend too, Saturday & Sunday at 4 P.M.

The highlight for me is the annual Reindog Parade, sponsored by Southwestern Vermont Health Care. It gives local canines and their people a chance to dress up in their holiday finery and walk from Chapin Hall down Spring Street. Over the years I've seen a few goats, sheep, horses and other four-legged friends join the fun. Gather at Chapin Hall for judging at 2:30; the parade starts at 3 and will welcome Santa to the Village Beautiful. He'll look for the little ones this year at the Williams Bookstore starting at 3:30, sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Everyone's invited to gather outside the new Williams Inn at the bottom of Spring St. for caroling and a tree lighting at 5:15 Saturday. That's just one of the new events planned. You can find out more about all the Holiday Walk happenings on the Williamstown Chamber's website.