As we step into December, Lake Huntington is starting to sparkle with that cozy, almost–magical holiday energy. The lights are going up, the days are getting shorter, and the whole community seems to settle into a mix of hustle, cheer, and a little year-end reflection. Whether you’re gearing up for gatherings, wrapping up school events, or just enjoying the quiet beauty of our little corner of the Catskills, there’s plenty happening to keep us connected this month.

Here are some events happening in our community and beyond:

Songs, Stories and Sleighbells – A Holiday Concert will take place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available now on My River Tickets. Link to purchase: https://myrivertickets.com/events/songs-stories-sleighbells-a-holiday-concert-celebration-12-14-2025 The show features Craig Bickhardt, Jesse Terry, Halley Neal, and Sam Robbins—four highly acclaimed, award-winning singer-songwriters joining forces for an afternoon of festive and heartwarming holiday music. Craig Bickhardt’s songs have been recorded by legends like Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Martina McBride, among more than 125 others. He has co-written nine Top 10 hits, including four #1s, and his holiday collaboration “Precious Child – The Story of Christmas” with Songwriter Hall of Fame member Thom Schuyler is considered a must-have classic. Jesse Terry, a Grand Prize winner of both The John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the CMT/NSAI Song Contest, performs over 125 shows annually, from Bonnaroo to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. His holiday CD Peace – A Christmas Collection and children’s book If I Were The Moon continue to delight fans each season. Halley Neal, an award-winning folk singer-songwriter known for her messages of positivity and peace, has captivated audiences across the country and at major festivals like Kerrville, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Her live shows are celebrated for their effortless vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Rounding out the lineup, Nashville-based Sam Robbins—winner of the 2021 Kerrville Folk Fest New Folk competition and the first artist to perform a Jim Croce song on The Voice—brings a warm, classic singer-songwriter sound reminiscent of James Taylor and Jackson Browne. His collaborative holiday album with Halley Neal, You and Me on Christmas Eve, released last year, was met with high praise from critics and fans alike. All are welcome to join in and celebrate the season with this unforgettable afternoon of music and cheer!

Dickens on the Delaware will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street in Callicoon. Shops, galleries and restaurants will highlight their Holiday goods and dazzle town visitors with their Holiday Spirit. Shopkeepers will be dressed in Victorian costumes. Enjoy street performances by local theatre groups and check out local vendors and makers who will feature their wares in shops and in outdoor tents. Callicoon retailers will stay open LATE to highlight the beauty of the historic town in the evening, where town visitors will be able to warm their hands by outdoor fire pits. Callicoon restaurants, bars and pubs will feature holiday food and cocktail specials, along with eggnog and hot chocolate to get visitors into the holiday spirit.

If you have a local business that would like to be spotlighted in an upcoming column, please get in touch! Please email jenn@jennpowelldesigns.com with any news, events, and happenings. You can also find me online at https://rustic-road.com/