Moonlight Magic Kicks off the Holiday Season in the Village of Shelburne Falls
Friday, November 23rd, 2012

This annual holiday event begins with the “Lighting of the Village” at approximately 4pm.  At 5:15pm, the annual Parade of Lights will cross over the Iron Bridge spanning across the Deerfield River from Buckland to Shelburne. Mole Hollow Candle Co. will again be providing 1,200 luminary candles which will line both sides of the streets throughout the village as Santa, the Grinch, the Snow Princess and many more make their way through town. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Moonlight Magic is a community tradition held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving coinciding with the annual “Holiday Lighting of the Village” in Shelburne Falls, MA. Many special features add to the traditional festive evening of family fun and holiday spirit in this classic New England village on the Mohawk Trail. The streets are filled with luminary candles, caroling, sidewalk sales, art events and craft demonstrations; Vendor tables are set along the sidewalks with local non-profit group’s holiday wreaths, baked goods and crafts; Live music and roving performers will be present on both sides of the river throughout the evening.; and Stores, galleries and restaurants stay open late for special holiday promotions.

The streets and local venues will be filled with music too. Many local vocal and instrumental groups will perform at designated sites and along the streets, including Uncle Hal’s Crabgrass Band, Last Night’s Fun Celtic Band, and the Expandable Brass Band. If your in need to warm up, stop in anytime at Memorial Hall Theater where children and their families can watch cartoons (traditionally Looney Tunes) on the big screen from 5:30-8pm, and families can stop into Santa’s Workshop at the Shelburne-Buckland Senior Center.

The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum will be open too. This will be a rare opportunity to ride the brightly lit and beautifully restored Trolley No. 10 after dark. While you wait for the Trolley, warm up by the potbelly stove and enjoy a cup of warm cider in the museum’s classic restored wooden caboose.  Take the Trolley to the Museum’s visitor center for interesting historic period displays of life in the area one hundred years ago. The kids will love the operating displays of toy trains.

Thanks to the Academy at Charlemont, a shuttle service will be provided with stops at Eddie’s Wheels, Christopher’s Grinders, the Trolley Museum, Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, and Arms Academy from 4-8pm. The Iron Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic so that folks can stroll back and forth enjoying events and open shops on both sides of the river.