Sunday, December 11, is winter holiday festival time in Norfolk, CT, where the town's merchants start celebrating at 10 a.m. with a day of extended store hours, dining specials, wreaths and trees, and special musical events.

Despite this wintry scene and the town's nickname, Icebox of Connecticut, Norfolk merchants are not expecting snow for their December 11 shopping event...they are forecasting sunny skies and perfectly clear sidewalks! Photo is taken on Station Place, looking toward Route 44 after Snowstorm Nemo in 2013. Photo © Bruce Frisch.

At Infinity Music Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West (Route 44) the Whiffenpoofs will perform with the Quirks in a matinee starting at 1:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m. Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar appear in concert. In between, the choir from Church of Christ Congregational will be caroling at various stops along Station Place from 3:00 till 5:00 p.m. and "Lions Share," sponsored by the Norfolk Lions Club, will play bluegrass music from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Country Store, 6 Station Place (where you can also take a pre-opening tour between noon and 5:00 p.m.).

And the shopping.... Shopping starts at 10:00 a.m. just off Route 44 on Station Place as the Artisan's Guild opens with a colorful array of toys, clothes, ornaments, candles, jewelry, yarns and many other handmade wares from local artisans. In the same building, Joseph Stannard Antiques specializes in country French furnishings, while the Stannard barn across the way displays antique garden ornaments and contemporary furniture designed by the owner. And around the corner, at 18 Greenwoods Road West (Route 44), you'll find antique silver, fine jewelry, gifts and collectibles at Sigma Design Studio; the shop is housed in a charming old bank building.

In the former railroad station at 10 Station Place, the lobby will sparkle with jewelry, exquisite shawls and an wealth of fabulous gifts and table top accessories from a trunk show by Aija. Next walk north to 20 John Curtis Road a little way past the post office and the bank (and its ATM) to find beautiful handpainted lamp shades, rugs and decorative borders at Ruthann Olsson Interior Arts.

Shoppers greet each other at Aija, during last year's Norfolk holiday shopping festival. This year's venue will be 10 Station Place, next to Station Place Cafe on December 11, featuring a new line of exquisite scarves and other gifts. Photo © Bruce Frisch. 

For those who like to benefit a worthy cause, the Susan B. Anthony Project will be in Norfolk selling holiday wreaths and the Norfolk/Colebrook Boy Scouts will be selling fresh Christmas trees, starting at 2:30 p.m. in front of the cafe.

And, yes, there is food for hungry shoppers, complete with specials, at Infinity Bistro (20 Greenwoods Road West), Wood Creek Bar & Grill (14 Greenwoods Road West), and Station Place Cafe (10 Station Place), which is extending its hours just for this holiday festival.

Come enjoy!

Sue Frisch was born in Ohio, grew up in Virginia and moved to New York City. In 1970, she and her husband discovered Norfolk, Conn., as the ideal place to visit; 30 years later they retired and moved there permanently. Sue now gardens, volunteers for town projects and never misses a chance to say nice things about the place she lives. As a former editor, she considers herself an educator, and claims to have taught several things to herself and at least one thing to her grandson.