The West Chester Christmas Parade is one of the region’s most-loved holiday traditions! Voted “Best Local Parade” and “Best Family-Friendly Event” by readers of Main Line Today, and presented by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the hometown parade delights fans of all ages as it kicks off a month full of celebrations during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester.

Parade night kicks off Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. with the official lighting of West Chester’s stunning 25-foot-tall Christmas tree on the lawn of the Historic Chester County Courthouse. The spectacle continues at 7 p.m. as 6abc’s Adam Joseph and WMMR’s Kathy Romano emcee the parade featuring local favorites — including more marching bands by popular demand! — as well as exciting newcomers and the most-anticipated appearance of the year: Santa!

Sponsorships are still available. For more information, visit greaterwestchester.com or email [email protected]

After several years' hiatus, the Clover Market's Holiday Market returns in a new venue at the Westtown School Athletic Center in West Chester PA.

This 2 day event will be held on December 2-3 from 10-4 pm with a curated group of 100 handmade and vintage vendors along with food and desserts. There is also a ticketed VIP option for early entry on Saturday only from 9-10 am. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to the public aside from the VIP hour.

Shoppers can expect to find a selection of holiday-focused antiques and vintage goods along with handmade artisan products including ornaments, jewelry, candles, bath and body products, gourmet pantry items, clothing and accessories, ceramics, gifts for kids and pets, leatherwork, home goods, woodwork, cards and prints, and more. The Clover vendor community hails from the Philadelphia area and beyond, and they will have a variety of products, styles and price points as well as gift sets and stocking stuffers.

Popular local food trucks Clean Plate Club and Philly Hots will be providing savory food options indoors, Many Hands Coffee will have coffee and festive seasonal beverages, and Lola Pâtisserie, Taylor Chip (Sat. Only), and Flour & Oats Artisan Cookies (Sun. only) will be serving up dessert options for hungry shoppers. There will also be facepainting and hands-on crafts for the little ones in attendance throughout the weekend.

VIP tickets are also available and allow shoppers first dibs on the one of a kind and limited quantity items along with a full-sized cotton tote bag, coffee from Many Hands, and a "Molly's Mule" mocktail from participating vendor Bluestem Botanicals. VIP's are welcome to stay as long as they'd like, and tickets are available from the Clover Market website (theclovermarket.com)

Westtown's 600 acre campus is accessible from the Main Line, Chester County, Delaware County and more. It's close to a number of local attractions including downtown West Chester (10 min), the Brandywine Museum of Art (15 min), Longwood Gardens (20 min) and more. Customers can enter from either the West or East campus entrances for easy access to the Athletic Center and free onsite parking.  Additional information at www.theclovermarket.com.

The Brandywine Valley Chorale, under the direction of Jason Throne, proudly presents its Christmas concert on Saturday, December 2.  The Concert will feature John Rutter’s Gloria, additional seasonal selections, and a traditional Christmas Carol sing-along. The BVC will be accompanied by guest ensemble, the Hickory Brass!

Join us for a holiday musical spectacular celebrating the Nativity and all the joys of the holiday season.  Learn more at https://thebvc.org/concerts-season

Employers Invited to Free Workshop on “Childcare: The Workforce Behind the Workforce” by Chester County Economic Development Council 

 The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) is inviting employers to a free workshop and breakfast on options for addressing employee childcare. 

 Childcare staffing shortages and extensive waitlists continue to affect families and employers, resulting in employee absences, scheduling conflicts and frustration.  
 

The panel discussion and roundtable called “Childcare: The Workforce Behind the Workforce” will be held on Thursday, December 7^th at Delaware County Community College-Downingtown Campus with a free continental breakfast and networking starting at 7:30 a.m. The program is from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  

The interactive presentation featuring a panel of industry experts will share their key experiences and insights for creating and delivering tangible action-focused childcare solutions that benefit both employees and employers. Register at https://ccedcpa.com/event/workforce-childcare/ 

  In Pennsylvania, 68% of children age six and under are in need of childcare, and families typically spend 11-20% of their income on those costs. Thursday’s panel discussion will explore employer options for supporting employee childcare, followed by a roundtable on innovative childcare infrastructure solutions. 

 "Labor shortages and challenges were the centerpiece of CCEDC’s Workforce Summit held last spring, said Patti VanCleave, CCEDC Vice President of Workforce Development. “All of us at CCEDC view it as our mission to bring together employers to alleviate this workforce crisis together.”  

 Register for this free event at https://ccedcpa.com/event/workforce-childcare/ 

For more information, contact Denise Hammel at [email protected]. 

Tinsel on the Town: December 8, 2023
A special holiday shopping evening from 4-8 pm with Kennett Square merchants,
designed for snatching up those last-minute gifts, and a bit of fun too. Explore the
different shops and restaurants along the State Street area and complete a BINGO card
to be entered to win a basket chock-full of KSQ goods and gift cards!

Our grand opening is this Saturday Dec 9, from 2-4.  It should be a blast!

A Beloved Tradition Returns: West Chester University’s 102nd Annual Holiday Concert

West Chester University’s 102^nd Annual Holiday Concert has become a beloved winter tradition. Campus and community members are invited to jump-start the season and join in this joyous celebration on Saturday, December 9, at 3 p.m. in the 1200-seat Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Professor and Associate Director of Choirs Ryan Kelly directs. Tickets are $14 at http://www.wcupatix.com/schoolofmusic or 610.436.2266. This concert will not be available to view by livestream.

A time-honored tradition since its inception in 1921, the Holiday Concert features student choral, orchestral, and jazz ensembles from the University’s esteemed Wells School of Music in a 90-minute concert mix of classical, contemporary, and jazz selections. Nearly 200 students will perform in the concert that showcases the Orpheus Singers, Allegro Voices, Oriana Chorale, Concert Choir, Mastersingers, Symphony Orchestra, and the Criterions Jazz Ensemble. Greenery, lights, and poinsettias will adorn the stage.

Program highlights include recognizable Christmas and Hannukah selections as well as selections inspired by the winter season:

• A Christmas Festival (Leroy Anderson)
• Beatus vir (Claudio Monteverdi)
• Serenity (Ola Gjeilo)
• The Christmas Song (Mel Torme)
• I Saw Three Ships (arr. Mark Riese)
• I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (arr. Brett Stewart)

Another event highlight is a rendition of “O Holy Night,” sung by the winner of the vocal honors competition, who is chosen by a faculty panel. This year’s winning vocalist is senior Music Education major Miranda Nilan (’24) who comes to West Chester University from Oxford, PA.

Nilan says, “I have known since my first semester here at West Chester University that singing ‘O Holy Night’ at the Holiday Concert was a goal. I have always had a deep love and passion for the holiday season, and I am honored to perform this beloved Holiday classic.”

Audiences are invited to come early to hear Christmas Carols by university organist Sándor Kádár on the historic Skinner pipe organ.

Limited parking is available across and along the street just outside the Philips Memorial Building. Parking is also available in West Chester’s M Lot, just a short walk away, and also in the Sharpless Street Garage. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged.

 West Chester University’s Wells School of Music offers students an outstanding opportunity in concentrated performance and musicianship. The school’s superior performance and practice venues include 22 new Steinways, Skinner organ, tech lab, Roland piano lab, and more. Students study with renowned faculty who have dual careers as dedicated educators and professional musicians. Faculty provide private lessons for all music students and are the directors for numerous student ensembles. The school supports a wide variety of Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, including those in music education, performance, composition, studio composition, music theory, music history, and more. Graduates pursue successful careers at major institutions and teach music education at home and abroad.

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FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS OF THE NUTCRACKER AT THE
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
First State Ballet Theatre, Delaware’s only professional ballet company and the Resident Ballet
Company at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, is celebrating the holiday season with five
performances of The Nutcracker in Copeland Hall at The Grand.

FSBT’s first production of The Nutcracker at The Grand in 2002 featured two professional guest
artists heading a cast of students dancing multiple roles. This year’s production will feature
FSBT’s company of 21 professional artists from around the world who live, work and dance here
in Delaware. Over 40 students from The School of First State Ballet Theatre will round out the
cast in the children’s roles.

Each year the production is updated with new choreography, new costumes and new dancers,
but the essence of the ballet remains the same. Theatregoers come year after year to hear the
timeless Tchaikovsky score, be swept away by the fantastical story of Marie and her handsome
prince and their magical journey to the Land of Sweets, and to create new memories with
family and friends each holiday season.

THE NUTCRACKER
Delaware’s Holiday Tradition at The Grand
Join Delaware’s ballet company on the magical journey through the Land of Sweets in this sparkling
production at The Grand Opera House.
Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 2 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 2 pm
Friday, December 22, 2023 at 7 pm
Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 2 pm
The Grand Opera House – Copeland Hall
818 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Tickets: $19.99-$57
Call 1-302-652-5577or visit www.thegrandwilmington.org
Tickets available at https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/productions/7806-the-nutcracker/

ABOUT FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE
Established in 1999, First State Ballet Theatre (FSBT) is Delaware's leader in ballet performance, training,
education and outreach. Our mission is to present ballet boldly to Delaware; to enrich our community
with live professional performances; to inspire and educate dancers and audiences of the future; and to
connect local youth with a creative, inclusive movement experience.
First State Ballet Theatre is Delaware's only professional ballet company and employs a diverse roster of
professional dancers from around the world. FSBT is based in Wilmington’s historic Grand Opera House
and presents classical and contemporary ballet programming and new works from local and
internationally-recognized choreographers.
Each year FSBT reaches over 6,000 people through our performances and outreach programs. The School
of FSBT offers ballet classes and other dance programming year-round for students ages three years to
seniors and attracts students from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and all three counties in
Delaware.
For more information about First State Ballet Theatre’s 2023-2024 Season,
please visit www.firststateballet.org

Celebrate New Years Eve at home watching our virtual event starting at 10:15 or park at KHS to watch the Mushroom Drop at Midnight.  Weather permitting (no wind) the lighted Mushroom will be raised 80′ between S Union and Broad Streets in the 600 S Broad Street parking lot at 9 PM.

Entertainers to include: Kevin Pierce, William Rose and The Robert Brothers (Ken and Jon from the Funsters)

Please continue to support our local restaurants through these trying times.  Take-Out only through 1/03/2021

• Braeloch Brewing
• Buddy’s Burgers
• Byrsa Bistro
• Cafe de Thai
• El Ranchero
• Giordano’s Pizza
• Grain Craft Bar & Kitchen
• Kaboburritos
• Kennett Brewing Company
• Kennett Square Inn 
• La Michoacana Grill
• La Pena
• LaVerona
• Lily Asian Cuisine
• Portobellos
• Rump Roasters
• State Street Pizza & Grill
• Taqueria Quadalajara Express
• The Creamery
• Verbena BYOB
• Victory  Brewing Company

PUBLIC SAFETY:  Due to COVID spectators will not be allowed inside the gate at 600 S Broad Street.

The event is a joint venture of the Kennett Area Restaurant and Merchants Association and  Mushroom Festival, a nationally-recognized annual event held in September, always the weekend after Labor Day.

Art Stroll Kennett Square

https://historickennettsquare.com/

Art Loop Wilmington

http://artloopwilmington.org/

First Friday West Chester

http://www.downtownwestchester.com/view_program.php?id=468

Midnight on the Square: December 31, 2023
How does the Mushroom Capital of the World ring in the new year? With an enormous
illuminated mushroom, of course! The legendary annual celebration, presented by the
Mushroom Festival in tradition of the Times Square ball drop, begins at 7:30 pm with
music, dancers, and a laser light show at the intersection of State & Union Streets. The
raising of the mushroom is at 8:55 pm, followed by the “Mushroom Drop” at midnight to
usher in 2024! Find more information at midnightinthesquare.com

Art Stroll Kennett Square

https://historickennettsquare.com/

Art Loop Wilmington

http://artloopwilmington.org/

First Friday West Chester

http://www.downtownwestchester.com/view_program.php?id=468

Local artist, Ivy Egger will teach students the art of mixed media mosaic, utilizing pieces of cut glass, beads, mica, glitter and whatever else adds a sparkle to this art form! By the end of the class, students will create a 5x7” sunflower mosaic of their own to take home. Students will learn how to lay out and assemble a mosaic and cut glass using wheeled nippers. Students will be provided with glass, beads, glass cutter tools, safety glasses, and adhesive to create a unique and sparkly piece of art suitable for framing!

Artist Bio: Ivy Egger lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania where she grew up. She took an interest in art early in life. She studied at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia before graduating from Millersville University with a B.A. in art. After graduating she took additional design courses at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. After trying out many artistic means, her other current medium is mixed media mosaic, utilizing pieces of cut glass, beads, mica, glitter, and whatever else adds a sparkle to this art form. She continues to show in many art exhibitions and galleries in the Greater Philadelphia region. Some recent exhibitions include the Chester County Studio Tour, her solo show at the art gallery at St. David’s Church in Wayne, and the international Art Ability at Bryn Mawr Rehab show, in which she received an honorable mention.

This class accommodates 6 students; a minimum of 3 are required for advanced registration to execute the class; if the minimum number of students are not enrolled 48 hours prior to the class, the class may be cancelled and students will be refunded their registration fees. An additional $15 for materials is payable to the instructor.

You must reserve your spot through Muse Artisan Boutique. This is the only way to book the class. https://www.museartisanboutique.com/classes

A job search can be overwhelming. It’s easy to lose track of the people you have contacted, the jobs to which you’ve submitted applications, and all the follow-ups that go along with it. Join us to learn lots of easy tricks to keep your job search organized and productive while maintaining your sanity.

All the pathways to employment shared in JB’s presentation were developed during a four-month transition period, in which her unexpected job search yielded 1,087 emails, 89 online job applications, 29 recruiter referrals, and countless phone calls. JB is currently the Vice President of Marketing Operations & Product Management at Philadelphia Police & Fire Federal Credit Union.

By attending this no cost session, you will learn:

•        the ability to stay on top of all applications, follow-up activities, and status
• how to effectively track all recruiter referrals and communications
• the value of tracking target companies and setting alerts, and why you need to do both
•        how to use templates to create the perfect resume and cover letter specific to each opportunity

My Career Transitions was established to assist professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area in navigating the career transition process, so "you're not alone."  For nearly two decades, this accomplished, and highly esteemed organization has supported more than 15,000 jobseekers by providing information and resources along with opportunities to network and learn new skills. In the networking session, you’ll meet others in a variety of industries and roles to further networking contacts for advice and connections.  The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable since we are all learning together.

Join us for an evening filled with art, culture, and community spirit. RSVP to secure your spot and be a part of this exciting showcase of MainLine contemporary art.

This exhibition is a testament to the creativity flourishing within our community, showcasing the unique perspectives, styles, and techniques that define MainLine's contemporary art landscape.

Highlights:

• Diverse Artworks: Immerse yourself in a collection of artworks that span various mediums, from paintings and sculptures to multimedia installations.
• Meet the Artists: Connect with the talented individuals behind the art. Gain insights into their creative process and the inspiration behind their masterpieces.
• Community Celebration: Experience the power of artistic expression in fostering community connections. This group show is a celebration of MainLine's rich cultural tapestry.

Artists Featured

Law Blank
Steven Bradshaw
Michael Bugler
Paulo Correa-Mayer
Matthew Dougherty
Judy Jarvis
Megan Kelley
Steve Ladner
Gail Morrison-Hall
Anthony Zecca

Sale days: Saturday, Feb 24 8am-4pm

                     Sunday,  Feb 25 10am-3pm     New this year! $10 bag sale all day Sunday!

We take cash and credit cards.

Unionville High School PTO fundraiser in the gym/cafe!

View our current exhibit Atmospheric featuring art from over 50 local artists, featuring soft changes in light, color, and atmosphere. Surround yourself with soft beauty. Purchase a unique handmade work and bring the soft beauty of our exhibit home while supporting local artists.

Exhibiting Artists:12bearZart | Curt Bare, Albena Artist, Ann Guidera-Matey, Anne Mitchell Reid, Arianna Harder Art, Barbara Rizza Mellin, Beverly Ann Kratzel, Celia Abrams, Cindy Tibbetts, Courtney Messina, Emie Hughes, Estelle Carraz-Bernabei, Ginny Cave, JP Feenstra, JoAnn Moy | Fine Art, Joan Sobel Art, John Lloyd, Katey Carlis, Katie Brown / katiegirlcreates , Kathy Agostinelli, Karen Collins / Kat Collins, Kelly Murray, Lee Muslin, Linda Povey, MCruzPaints, Mara Effects, Marie Tosto, Megan Lee Wenger, Nancy Ford Gore, Nina Yocom, Pat Scarano Art, Perennial Tapestries , Pottery Connection LLC, proFOUNDARTcreations, Rebecca Jacob, Rebecca Yurkevicz, Rita Reisser, Robin Sesan Art, Sara Fry, Sarah O’Brien, Sharon Jessar Art, Susan O'Reilly Studio, LLC , Scott Sneddon/StudioSned, Stephen Marvin/Manatee, Studio LeRoi, The Works of Tamarah, Veronica Batter, Skip Gosnell Artworks & Design

Sale days: Saturday, Feb 24 8am-4pm

                     Sunday,  Feb 25 10am-3pm 

New this year! $10 bag sale all day Sunday!

We take cash and credit cards.

Unionville High School PTO fundraiser in the gym/cafe!