VERGENNES — The Little City of Vergennes will be in full holiday spirit this season at the annual Holiday Stroll, scheduled for this Saturday, Dec. 7,  as well as other themed days of holiday cheer. Participants will enjoy a festive collection of activities ranging from a breakfast with Santa Claus at the Vergennes Union High School cafeteria to the 13th annual Winter Craft Fair at Vergennes Union Elementary School, to a stroll down Main Street ringing bells and singing songs with Santa and his elves.
Musical guests Maiden Vermont, Jon Gailmor, the Champlain Brass Quintet and Dickens Carolers will fill the day with music while stories and lessons will be read throughout the day to help spread the holiday message of togetherness and joy. 
Many businesses around Vergennes will be hosting donation boxes for the Community Food Shelf, where gifts of non-perishable food items would be accepted at any of those participating locations.
The day’s celebrations wind up with the Lighting of City Park and the Memory Tree with Mayor Bill Benton, along with a caroling session and the Addison County Gospel Choir to send everyone home with a cheery spirit. For more information on the Holiday Stroll call the Addison County Chamber of Commerce at 802-388-7951, ext. 1.
Vergennes Holiday Stroll schedule of events:
7:30-10 a.m.    Breakfast with Santa at VUHS Cafeteria. Adults $6, kids under 10 $4, under 3 free. Come and eat breakfast with Santa and make a craft in his workshop! Sponsored by VUHS students and Friends of Music. Info: 759-2922
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.          13th Annual Winter Holiday Craft Fair at Vergennes Union Elementary School. Admission: canned goods and non-perishables for the local food shelf.
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.      “Spot the Candy Cane.” Visit shops to play; find a candy cane and receive a discount coupon.?
Help supply the Community Food Shelf — drop off non-perishable items in merchant’s food shelf boxes.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bixby Library Open House and Annual Silent Auction of Holiday Baskets (featuring handmade items) donated by local businesses and patrons (bidding ends at 1:45 p.m. Winning bids announced at 2 p.m.). Bring items to hang on the Mitten & Sock Tree.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Rotary Bake Sale in front of Bixby Library.?
10:30 a.m.      Ring in the Holiday Stroll by joining Santa and his elves strolling from the Vergennes Opera House to the Bixby Library. Bring bells to ring and a voice to sing!
10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.        “Art Lights Up Vergennes” decorative lanterns and Holiday Art & Gifts Show at Creative Space Gallery.
10:45 a.m.      Santa Claus reads “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” at the Bixby Library.
11 a.m.-noon   Jon Gailmor, Vermont singer/songwriter at Bixby Library. Great family event — FREE.
11 a.m.-noon   “Reminiscing with Father Time” at the Clock Shop, 33 Green St. Listen or share memories, photos, objects, etc., of Christmases past or Days of Old (conversation style). Enjoy cider and cookies.
12:30-1 p.m.   Delectable light holiday refreshments at Bixby Library. Offered by Vergennes Community Forum.
1-1:30 p.m.     Maiden Vermont, women’s a cappella group at Bixby Library — FREE.
1-2 p.m.         Champlain Brass Quintet at Vergennes Opera House.
1-4:30 p.m.     Visit a Winter Wonderland at Vergennes Opera House — a community effort! Bake sale to benefit Little City Players theater group; hot cocoa offered by Northlands JobCorps Center.
2-3 p.m.         Dickens Carolers (Little City Players) in front of businesses on Main Street.
2-4 p.m.         Make & take Christmas cards at Vergennes Opera House — free for all ages. Offered by the Vergennes Masonic Lodge.
2:30-4:30 p.m. Children’s visit with Santa in a Winter Wonderland at Vergennes Opera House (VOH). Suggested donation of $5 per family to defray VOH heating costs. Enjoy 5-by-7 child’s picture with Santa taken by The Custom Image (Ralph Muzzy & Elaine Eldridge) Pictures are compliments of Kinney Drugs.
•  Gingerbread cookie decorating for children of all ages by Northlands Job Corps Center
•  Make ornaments at Santa’s Workshop for the “Children’s Holiday Tree” which will be displayed in the window of a Main St. business during the month of December
•  Mrs. Claus reads stories
•  Bake sale by Little City Players
3:30-4 p.m.     Victory Baptist Church Choir at Vergennes Opera House.
4:45 p.m.        S.D. Ireland lighted Holiday Mixer Truck in City Park.
5 p.m.            Lighting of City Park & Memory Tree with Mayor Bill Benton. Caroling by Addison County Gospel Choir — do join in!
More Holiday Fun!
Now through Dec. 17    Rotary Holiday Raffle (15 Prizes!). Tickets $10 — only 150 tickets will be sold. Proceeds will benefit needy area families. Purchase tickets at Classic Stitching or from any Rotarian. Drawing Dec. 17. Info: 877-2134
Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.         Broadway Direct at Vergennes Opera House by Bill Carmichael & New York City friends to benefit Friends of VOH. Classic Broadway tunes/holiday songs. Admission: $20, students/children $5. vergennesoperahouse.org
Dec. 8, 8-10 a.m.         Breakfast by Knights of Columbus at St. Peter’s Parish Hall. Under 60, $8; over 60, $ 7; 6-12, $6; immediate family, $27.
Dec. 14, 5-6:30 p.m.     Chicken & biscuit dinner at Vergennes Methodist Church, $8 per person. Info: 877-3150.
Dec. 12, 4-7 p.m.         Ladies Night. Fill out your wish list while enjoying refreshments at participating Main Street businesses.
Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.            Christmas cookie & craft sale at Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church. Dutch pastries, fancy cookies & treats. Candy by the pound. Enjoy hot cider and a festive atmosphere while you shop, choose and package your favorites.
Dec. 21           Shop 4 Mom Day — All Vergennes businesses!
During the Holidays      Visit Vergennes and reap the benefits of Vergennes Rotary’s two holiday decorating contests: one for Main Street businesses and one for area residents. Judging will be Dec. 21. Info: 877-2134
Listen to carols played daily on the United Methodist Church Carillon.