Littleton

LITTLETON — First Church Unitarian in Littleton will host their Folk Festival at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at 19 Foster St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Headlining artist will be award-winning folk-blues-soul act The Sugarsnap Trio, featuring Collin Cope, Luke Hausermann, and Chris Page.

“Music gives us an opportunity to do a few things that none of us can do in our day jobs,” said Christopher Page. “We perform quite a few traditional American folk songs, including some gospel music, bluegrass, and blues music.”

Performing these songs, or writing songs in their style, Page believes “brings us into closer contact with those that came before us, their struggles, their triumphs, and their modes of expression, than anything we do in our day-to-day work.”

Being that the performance is in a church, guests can expect The Sugarsnap Trio to play at least a few old spiritual songs.

“We love to sing in harmony, and it’s hard to beat those gospel-type tunes which were written explicitly for bold and expansive harmonies,” Page said.

They will also play a number of funky, upbeat bluesy numbers, “which get people boogying a bit,” he said with a smile.

“Expect powerful vocals and three-part harmonies, tight rhythms, bluesy acoustic guitar, and Collin Cope’s phenomenal harmonica playing,” said Page. “Which can feel at times like a diesel train roaring into the station, and at other times like the soft, inviting warmth of butter on toast.”

There will also be two warm-up acts as well.

Boston-based singer-songwriter Sarah Levecque will perform a brief set.

Levecque, an Americana artist from Boston, is a singer-songwriter who moves easily between the sturdy roots of American music, influenced in equal parts by early blues, country, folk, and rock music.

Patti Sardella will perform with friends Laura Pailler, Kristine Tomlinson, and Rev. Lara Hoke.

Sardella sings and plays guitar – folk music; Pailler will add vocals; Tomlinson will play electronic bagpipes; and Rev. Hoke will add bass guitar.

There will be a brief intermission with refreshments.

Suggested donation is $30 per person or $35 per family, but any donation in any amount is appreciated, no one will be turned away.  

LITTLETON — The Annual Country Fair of Littleton promises to offer something for everyone – free kids activities, a gigantic yard sale, fantastic homemade jams, a used bookstore and jewelry booths, homemade lunch and bake table, and new this year, take a tour of a home-built super-tiny house.

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at First Church Unitarian, 19 Foster St. and at the nearby Littleton Historical Society, 4 Rogers St.

“We have raised ‘spend a day, not a fortune’ to new heights with free fun family crafts and face painting,” said Susan Tordella, co-chair of the annual event. “Kids of all ages can shop for treasures at the ultimate recycling booths and yard sale; buy grilled hot dogs, mac ‘n cheese and popcorn, all without breaking the piggy bank.”

Special highlights include tarot card readings, Martha’s home baked apple pies, free live entertainment by the famous UU Ukes, and “Ask the Minister” a question about the universe or life.

The massive yard sale offers a variety of gently used household items, sporting equipment, toys, kitchen goods, some vintage and mid-century items, art, craft supplies, games, bric-a-brac, tools, home maintenance, and many surprises.

“Come early for the best selections at the yard sale and our famous homemade jams, jellies and pickles and crafts,” Tordella said.

Lunch and scones will be sold at the Country Cafe inside the church’s lower dining room.

The homemade menu features pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw, macaroni and cheese “to die for, and Lentil soup – vegan, gluten free and delicious,” Tordella adds.

Donations from the community for the yard sale will be accepted Friday, Oct. 13 from 4 until 6 p.m., and 8 until 10 a.m. before the sale. TVs, car seats or computer monitors will not be accepted. All contributions are tax-deductible, to benefit First Church Unitarian of Littleton, which awards 10 percent of income to a Littleton non-profit. For more information, e-mail fair@fculittle.org.

The Annual Country Fair has been a fixture in the town of Littleton since the 1800’s.

The fair was originally organized by the women’s groups within the Unitarian Church as a fundraiser for the church and various charitable organizations. In the early days the fair was held on church property. Many of the events were housed in the horse and buggy stalls that were attached to the church. When the church replaced the carriage stalls with a Sunday school wing the fair moved across the street to beautiful Fay Park.

Over the years the fair has expanded from the front lawn of the church to encompassing the entire park end to end.

Today, the Country Fair is a fun-packed day for all ages.

“We hope to see you there, to continue a tradition that dates back to the 1890s,” said Tordella.