MarchFourth! will bring their description-defying performance to the Winthrop Barn on Dec. 17.
A planner’s guide to enjoying the holidays
By Ann McCreary
December delivers an abundance of music, theater, art, community gatherings and shopping to celebrate winter and the holidays in the Methow Valley.
To help plan for the busy month ahead, following is a roundup of December diversions.
Music
Saturday (Dec. 4): Liberty Bell High School students Peter Aspholm and Aidan Catlin perform classical guitar at Confluence Gallery in Twisp. The free performance begins at 3 p.m. Both are students of local classical guitarist Terry Hunt. For more information, call 997‑9344.
Saturday (Dec. 4): Okanogan Valley Orchestra & Chorus presents their holiday concert, “Celebrate the Holidays,” at 3 p.m. at the Omak Performing Arts Center. The orchestra, under the direction of Matt Brown, will perform popular holiday music including three movements from “Nutcracker Suite” by Peter Tchaikovsky. The chorus, directed by Jonathan McBride, will perform selections that range from the humorous “Cold and Fugue Season” to the nostalgic “Auld Lang Syne.” The orchestra and chorus will join together for the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for youth 13 – 18, and children 12 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door, at the Corner Shelf in Omak or online at www.ovocmusic.org. For information, call (509) 429‑1945.
Dec. 13 – 14: Cascadia Music’s annual Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. both nights features the Cascadia Chorale, directed by Dana Stromberger, and the Pipestone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Armbrust. The orchestra will perform Handel’s “Water Music,” “Winter Wonderland” and Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” with the choir. Choral selections include well-known carols and Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” which was composed for a virtual choir of 185 singers from 12 countries who recorded their parts at home on their computers. The concerts will be at the Methow Valley Community Center. Admission is by donation. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 15: The Liberty Bell High School concert band performs at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 996‑2215.
Dec. 17: MarchFourth! features 20 musicians and dancers who deliver a multi-faceted performance that defies categorization. The group combines funk, rock, jazz, Afro-beat, Gypsy brass and Big Band with a kaleidoscope of colorfully costumed stilt walkers, acrobats and Vaudeville-style performers in an exhilarating experience. Presented by Methow Arts, the show is for adults 18 or older, and begins at 7 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn. Tickets are $45 – 55, with reserved seating and a full bar. Tickets may be purchased at marchfourthmethowarts.brownpapertickets.com and the Methow Arts Office, info@methowartsalliance.org. For information, call 997‑4004.
Dec. 23: Cascadia Music presents a free performance by students from Pipestone School of Music at 6:30 p.m. in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 24: Cascadia Music carolers present a free performance in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby at 5 p.m. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 26: Laura Love and Terry Hunt present a free performance in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby at 6:30 p.m., presented by Cascadia Music.
Dec. 27: The Tamarack String Quartet, presented by Cascadia Music, presents a free performance at 6:30 p.m. in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 28: Pianist Lynette Westendorf and Friends in a free performance at 6:30 p.m. in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby, presented by Cascadia Music. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 29: Maggie Coon, Lynette Westendorf, and members of the Cascadia Chorale in a free performance at 6:30 p.m. in the Sun Mountain Lodge lobby, presented by Cascadia Music. For information, call 997‑0222.
Dec. 31: Local pianist Michael Brady will perform his new solo presentation, “A ‘Recital-Lecture,’ the Subject Being Chopin” at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp, beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation. For nformation, call 996‑5002.
Theater
Dec. 9, 10 and 11: Holiday Readers Theater at The Merc Playhouse in Twips presents “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Gift of the Magi,” two heart-warming staged readings selected for the holiday season. Student actors from Methow Valley Elementary School perform in “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time for audience members to view art by Liberty Bell High School students, and participate in The Merc’s silent auction of goods and services. Dec. 9 and 10 shows are at 7 p.m., the Dec. 11 show is at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation. For information, call 997‑7529.
Art
Through Dec. 3: Southeast Asian Trunk Show at Confluence Gallery showcases textiles, sculpture, jewelry and unusual items from Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The collection is personally selected by designer and curator Theresa Miller. Free. For information, call 997‑2787.
Through Jan 7: Two exhibits are on display at Confluence Gallery, including the gallery’s annual Holiday Gift Show titled “One Foot³ : Thinking Inside the Box.” The exhibit features fine art and craft in a variety of mediums that are one foot cubed or smaller in size and priced under $300. “Luminance” features paintings by Methow Valley artist Steve Ward in Confluence’s Community Gallery. For information, call 997‑2787.
All winter: Wool and wood art and paintings are on display throughout the winter season at The Gallery at Sun Mountain Lodge. Lush rugs out of Pendleton wool made by weaver Katie Swanson, and elegant furniture by her husband, Rick Swanson, are on display. Three painters — Donna Keyser, Rod Weagant and Michael Kirshner — capture the season with paintings of mountain landscapes and evocative winter scenes. For information, call 997‑0255.
Shopping
Through Jan. 3: The Winthrop Gallery’s annual Holiday Gift Show offers fine gifts created by artists and crafters from throughout the region. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday-Monday. For information, call 996‑3925.
Saturday (Dec. 3): Christmas Bazaar at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp, featuring over 65 local vendors offering fine art, pottery, hand-blown glass, birdhouses, wreaths, handmade chocolates, unique crafts and food. Hours are 9 a.m. – 3 pm. For information, call 997‑2926.
Dec. 3 – 24: Artisan gift show at Yardfoods in Twisp offers an array of local and handmade gifts for the holidays. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For information, call 997‑0978.
Dec. 8: Gear Up for the Holidays at TwispWorks from 4 – 7 p.m. The TwispWorks campus will celebrate the season with warming fires, a community Christmas tree, carols, musical performances and treats and beverages. Working studios at TwispWorks offer local, unique holiday gifts and Methow Made products. Santa will be on hand with fun activities for kids, and carriage rides will be offered between TwispWorks and local businesses in Twisp, which will also be open to celebrate the holiday season. For information, call 997‑3300.
Dec. 10: The Winthrop Barn’s annual Holiday Bazaar, featuring locally made gifts and food available for purchase, will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information about the free event, email winthropbazaar@hotmail.com.
Holiday social and presentation
Dec. 6: The Methow Conservancy hosts a free holiday party open to the community at the Winthrop Barn from 6 – 7 p.m., with drinks and appetizers. The party is followed at 7 p.m. with a presentation by award winning photographer Paul Bannick titled “Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls.” The presentation illustrates the lives of owls throughout a year in four different habitats — forest, grasslands, boreal and Arctic. For more information, call 996‑2870.
