The Festival of Trees has been the premier annual event at the Bennington Museum for many years now, eleven to be exact. This year’s Festival will have some interesting changes. First, its theme reflects the “US Capitol Christmas Tree” project, on which scores of Vermont volunteers have been working all year. This is only the fifth time that the National Christmas Tree has come from Vermont.

The museum’s decorations will reflect the Capitol Christmas Tree theme of “Bringing an Old-Fashioned Holiday to the Nation.” Volunteers and state officials who brought the project to reality will attend a luncheon at the museum on Monday, November 19th following a special ceremony at the Vermont Veterans Home. More celebrating will take place downtown, capped by the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree.

The museum's regular festival activities kick off the day after Thanksgiving with a fine art tag sale featuring items donated by Applejack Art Partners and deep discounted product in the beautifully appointed museum shop.

A Champagne Brunch will be presented on Saturday, December 1st, with sittings at 10 a.m. and noon. This gourmet affair will be overseen by accomplished chef Bill Scully and includes brioche french toast with local berry compote, eggs with Vermont Cheddar, maple-smoked bacon, holiday cookies, and mimosas.  Combined with beautiful holiday ambience, live music, and the beckoning Silent Auction, this event is guaranteed to get your season off to a satisfying start. Tickets are $20, and reservations are required.

The Silent Auction will have a new twist that we hope will pique your curiosity. During the past several years, home décor items have consistently proved to be the most popular, so we have decided to focus on them. Many of these home wares and furnishings, including framed art, pottery, glass, centerpieces, quilts, and furniture, are of very high quality.

In keeping with the “old-fashioned” Festival theme, the free Family Day on December 8th will feature the world of toy trains with all their magical attraction as symbols of American know-how and technology. Bring the whole family to enjoy a special afternoon of activities, models, and treats.

This year the Bare Stages theater company will present an afternoon of plays based on stories by Charles Dickens on December 2nd.  Both productions, including A Christmas Carol, feature lots of audience participation and are appropriate for children.  Rounding out the Festival performances, on December 9th, piano virtuoso Jeni Slotchiver will generously offer to Bennington a complete preview of the concert she will later give at the National Gallery in Washington, DC.

Unusual merchandise, lots of bargains, and a taste of champagne and chocolate will be available for your pleasure in the Museum Shop from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on December 7th.  This year’s raffle prize is a luxuriously framed, brushwork-textured reproduction of Albert Bierstadt’s famous In the Mountains, dating from 1867 when this master of western landscape views was at the height of his powers.

No Festival of Trees would be complete without a Grand Finale Gala - this year on December 14th. Catered by Deb Gluckman Catering of Cambridge, this elegant evening will feature music by the Richard Cherry Trio and the announcement of the Silent Auction wining bids.