Newton holiday tradition highlights local museums
Newton holiday tradition highlights local museums
The Five Places of Christmas event is an opportunity for local holiday shopping and all things Christmas.
While the Bethel College campus is focused on the approaching final exams of the fall semester, the start of December brings an important tradition to the Newton area.
The Five Places of Christmas is an open house spanning three local museums, an art gallery, and the Bethel College Women’s Association. The event locations provide a variety of refreshments and crafts with free admission.
“Each of the five venues offers something a little different. Kauffman Museum has a great gift shop and art majors from Bethel College will have items for sale,” said Andi Schmidt Andres, Director of Kauffman Museum.
“There will be a giant bake sale and handcrafted items at the Goerz House. Carriage Factory Gallery will offer a snowflake ornament craft and live music. If you visit each site and get a card stamped, you'll get a free Newton stress ‘ball’ shaped like a train.”
Beyond promoting local museums, this event also offers a unique opportunity for students at Bethel to promote their small businesses and side hustles.
“There are plenty of opportunities for networking,” said senior Morgan Marsh from Lawrence. “I have a business card I hand out where others can see my Etsy and Instagram involving my small business. It is a great opportunity to sell handmade crafts or artwork, while also promoting [the] hard work learning these particular skills.”
“It's great how the five sites all work together to put on a really fun event,” Andres shared. The event is organized by the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau, illustrating the community’s continued focus to have people “Choose Newton.” Rather than viewing other museums as competitors, the event shows an effort to work collaboratively to promote unity.
“If you have holiday shopping to do or want to get in the spirit, this is a great opportunity to do both while supporting local small businesses,” said senior Edel Miller from Goessel. Miller is participating in the Five Places of Christmas by selling pottery at Kauffman Museum alongside Marsh’s crafts.
The event offers a reprieve from the busy end of the fall academic season, as a vendor or an attendee. “Take a break from studying or grading,” Andres added. “Get out and see the sites in your own hometown and enjoy some Christmas cheer while you are out and about.”
The Five Places of Christmas will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery, Harvey County Historical Museum, Kauffman Museum, Warkentin House, and Goerz House.