Westport Museum for History & Culture will be hosting its 3rd annual outdoor holiday market on its grounds in downtown Westport on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am to 4pm. The free event is part of the Museum’s December-long Holly Days programming which is sponsored, in  part, this year by Westport’s Lyons Plain Architecture & Design. 

“This event has something for everyone,” said Westport Museum Chairperson, Darcy Hicks. “In  addition to unique local vendors visitors will get to enjoy our holiday themed displays including our  beloved gingerbread village of Westport buildings past and present. Best of all, Santa Claus will be on  hand to visit with young and old.” 

The Museum’s holiday displays include a vignette portraying a Victorian Christmas celebration and the  Westport Heritage Tree, created in the 1980s as an ecumenical celebration of winter holidays. The tree  showcases ornaments ranging from the traditional to the modern and representing various artistic styles.  Among them are those created by artists including cartoonists Mel Casson and Randy Enos; illustrators  Stevan Dohanos, Hardie Gramatky, Howard Munce and Jim Sharpe as well as stamp designer Leonard  Everett Fisher and sculptors Jean Woodham and Hilda Kraus.  

In an annual tradition, a new building is added to Gingerbread Westport. This year it is a traditional New  England Saltbox House. Replica Saltbox Houses will be available for a gingerbread decorating  workshop for the public on December 10th and 11th. Registration for that event can be found at  westporthistory.org.

Also this year, Holly Days Festival & Market goers will also not only be able to shop among the local  vendors but pick up a very special gift—a traditional silhouette by artist Deborah O’Connor. 

“We’re so excited to once again host noted silhouette artist Deborah O’Connor who is back with us in  person after two years of COVID restrictions,” said Ganeshram. “Silhouettes are classic American art  form and make a gorgeous holiday gift. You can even have a silhouette done of a beloved pet from a  photo taken in profile.” 

Silhouettes will be cut and framed, if desired, in the Museum’s newly restored Cobblestone Barn.  Register at https://westporthistory.org/events/silhouettes/. 

And, as always, the star attraction at the market is none other than jolly old St. Nick himself who will be  posing for professional photos with kids young and old, taken by Westport photographer Jerri Graham.  Members enjoy a private early-bird hour for their photos at 9-10am. 

Hanna Przada, principal at Lyons Plain Architecture & Design, which is sponsoring the Gingerbread  Village and Santa Claus encourages everyone to come out for the family-fun event. 

"This is a wonderful day for all and we’re proud to continue to support this important institution,” said Przada. “As architects who often work in the space of historic preservation and with clients new to the  area, we know how important or organizations like Westport Museum are to the community spirit and  cultural life of the town."