Christmas in the Country 2007 ~ November 30, December 1 & 2 Friday & Saturday 10am~5pm Sunday 11am~5pm
True Love's First Gift, acrylic painting by Beverly Hooks
Embark upon a creative journey! Board a Washington State ferry from the Coleman Dock in downtown Seattle cruising westward on the waters of Puget Sound. Backdropped by the Olympic Mountains, Bainbridge Island is a thirty-two square mile sylvan tapestry of pastoral fields and wooded hills lapped by the waters of Puget Sound. Bainbridge has a rich historical and arts culture, notable gardens and farms, and a small, historic business district in downtown Winslow supported by outlying neighborhood service centers and industrial parks. Predominantly a bedroom community, Bainbridge has a high preponderance of cottage industries tucked within the rural setting of the island. The island is connected on the north end to the Kitsap Penninsula via the Agate Pass Bridge.
Christmas in the Country, held annually the first Friday, Saturday & Sunday of December, invites the public to visit some of these quaint cottage industries, art studios, farms, and historic homes on the island. There are venues located at water's edge, some tucked deep within tall stands of Douglas fir and cedar trees, some in downtown Winslow, and others in various neighborhood hills and dales. Many of the homes and buildings were built between the 1870s and 1930s in conjunction with two large sawmills that operated on both ends of the Island. Undertake the adventure of exploring backwoods Bainbridge and enter cozy, private homes and buildings to discover the creations of local and regional artists, authors, and musicians, as well as, unique gift items and epicurean delights.
The free, driving tour is suitable for all ages. Besides holiday shopping that is unique and personal, there are activities for children including free pony rides and Santa visits. New this year is the personification of Christmas fairy tales and fantasties and Christmas traditions f rom Norway and England as various of the venues become magical places transformed into an icy palace of the Snow Queen, or a Christmas wonderland, or nostalgic remembrance of Christmas in the old country.
Please consider carpooling as parking is limited. For safety and to avoid traffic congestion when parking on our narrow country roads, please pull completely off the road onto the shoulder. Note: Bathroom facilities and charge card services are limited. Visit The Tour page for Venues and Artist/Activities list. Visit The Map page for help in locating each stop.
Festive, Fun, Fairy tales & Fantasies describe the 14th annual Bainbridge Island Christmas in the Country tour. Eleven fascinating venues welcome you to stop in and experience history, meet fascinating artists and their handmade arts & crafts, savor epicurean delights, and enjoy festive music, activities and décor. Enchanting decorative themes at some of the venues will captivate your imagination. In addition to the usual fascinating charm and hominess within the classy and historic homes, rustic coziness of a family built barn, and a bucolic equestrian stable you will experience a family’s traditional Norwegian Christmas celebration, Santa and his elves, the Snow Queen and her court, a Victorian Christmas, and an elaborate Christmas decorating extravaganza.
Due to tight quarters and varying levels, most of the home venues are not wheelchair accessible inside. Some have outdoor artists and food vendors, however. The following venues can accommodate wheelchairs: Countryman Stables, Ye Ol' Christmas Shoppe, Hazel Creek Farm, and the Creativity Center.
To download a map and list of venues and artists, see immediately below.
Our Venues: See theFascinating Factspage for expanded stories. Stephens House (circa 1910) Stephens House is located in downtown Winslow and is home to the nonprofit Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation. Under the loving care and guidance of Shelley Long and staff, young adults with developmental disabilities learn vocational skills. Through the genre of arts & crafts, the clients produce incredible art and personal care products which they offer for sale. Countryman Stables Rick & Kathy Countryman generously offer free pony rides for children 12 & under in a covered arena, Saturday and Sunday, 12-2pm. The Countryman’s Bainbridge Island roots run deep into the rich soil of Island ancestry.
Beverly Hooks Studio/Gallery in Historic Lynwood Center (1930s) The brick tudor shopping village of Lynwood Center is the perfect site for Beverly Hooks to work and display her fine art acrylic paintings featuring romantic impressions and landscapes. As you step into the gallery, experience ye old England as Beverly presents A Victorian Christmas. Beverly is the Christmas in the Country 2007 poster artist.
Ye Ol' Christmas Shoppe in Historic Lynwood Center (1930s)
A few doors down from the Hooks Gallery is a space once occupied for many years by Walt's Grocery Store, a neighborhood drop-in for needed groceries and assundries as well as gathering place for conversation and coffee. During Christmas in the Country, the space transitions into an arts & crafts gallery full of marvelous handmade gifts.
Blackberry Hill Farm
Blackberry Hill Farm and Bicycle Inn B&B, home of Bart & Dana Berg, sits in the middle of twelve sun-filled, quiet acres of field and forest with a spring fed pond and 200 foot fir trees. Experience A Norwegian Christmas as the Berg’s honor Bart’s Norwegian heritage and share customary traditions of cardamom coffee, krumkakke, Nordic fiddlers, and bunads.If you don’t know what those are, come and find out or see the Fascinating Facts page.
Bainbridge Island Creativity Center The Creativity Center, home to the nonprofit Return to Creativity established by Pam Christiansen and associates, provides a space for community sharing. It assists individuals of all levels to open, expand, and be more confident in their creative expression. Experience the crystalline icy cold of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale of The Snow Queen as the Creativity Center transforms into the Snow Queen’s palace during Christmas in the Country.
Sweetlife Farm Nestled deep in the woods, bees hum busily visiting herbal flowers and pollinating berry blossoms that become the ingredients used in the natural farm raised products created by Bob & Nancy Fortner at Sweetlife Farm.A visit to their lodge-style home is a visual gratification and their cottage industry a testimony to expressed creativity and dedication to hard work . The Little Yellow Farmhouse (1916) Just above Manitou Beach sits The Little Yellow Farmhouse, yellow for sure and cute as can be replete with aged apple trees, white picket fence and 1948 Farmall tractor. Warm, welcoming hospitality exudes from owner Lucia Olson and daughter Carly so come, be a guest! Hazel Creek Farm (1921) This rustic and bucolic five acre family compound was hand-built by owners Ollie and Janice Pedersen and is also home to the Hazel Creek Montessori School.During Christmas in the Country, the barn is bursting with activity, music and the happy sounds of Christmas wishes shared with Santa and his elves in Santaland. Port Madison Design (1910) Overlooking Port Madison is the historic home of Bob & Catherine Morrow which in its early days served as a summer place for Seattle vacationers. Honoring the home's significance to Island history, Catherine has taken up the heritage craft of smocking and opened her petite design studio last year. Teri’s Christmas Extravaganza (1910) Astone’s-throw neighbor to the Morrows is the abode of Teri Cole.Theformer summer home is a near replica of the Morrow's house before alterations. Teri is "Cuckoo for Christmas"! A visit to Teri’s Christmas extravaganza promises to be an eye-popping, jaw-dropping, surreal experience in Christmas decor all to benefit the nonprofit organization, Ferry Dog Mothers.
Details of the free, self-guided driving tour arefound on The Tour page or at the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce in November (206.842-3700) on the corner of Highway 305 and Winslow Way, 590 Winslow Way E, www.bainbridgechamber.com, or as a download above. (coming soon!) Ferry schedule information, 206-464-6400, 888-808-7977 or www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ For lodging on Bainbridge Island and nearby: www.bestwestern.com/bainbridgeislandsuites, www.bainbridgelodging.com . For help in finding business or other services while visiting Bainbridge Island go to www.visitkitsap.com or look for us on www.FinditKitsap.com, a fast, easy way to find anyone from Gig Harbor to Port Ludlow...and every place in between,
Index to Activities
Quick index to activities found on The Tour page Pony Rides - Countryman Stables, Sat & Sun, 12-2pm Santa Photos - Hazel Creek Farm, Sat 10am-noon, 1-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm Musical Entertainment - Hazel Creek Farm, Lynwood Center, Blackberry Hill Farm Creativity Center *(see Tour page for times) Lunch - Free latte with lunch at theTreehouse Cafe Mini Donuts & Kettle corn- Stephens House Hot food & drinks - Hazel Creek Farm, Port Madison Design,The Little Yellow Farmhouse Tiny Tim collection - All venues
Christmas in the Country cares about individuals crippled by financial or other circumstances. We collect funds at each venue in our Tiny Tim Adopt-a-Family Fund to distribute to local families. Thank you for your generous donations.
Our nonprofit affiliates: Bainbridge Island Creativity Center Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation Ferry Dog Mothers Squeaky Wheels St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Mongolian Outreach
Our Support Team
This event is a cooperative effort by valued individuals and groups. Some contribute financially to the success of Christmas in the Country but all invest their time, talents, and energy to make your visit to Bainbridge Island and each venue a special and memorable time.
Hosts: First and foremost the venue owners deserve kudos for opening their hearts and homes and studios to the community and guest artists, authors and musicians: Shelley Long, Rick & Kathy Countryman, Beverly Hooks, Stephen Romein & Ty Cramer, Bart & Dana Berg, Pam Christiansen, Bob & Nancy Fortner, Lucia Olson, Ollie & Janice Pedersen, Bob & Catherine Morrow, and Teri Cole.
A winter day at historic Lynwood Center, photo courtsey of Bainbridge Historical Society
Greetings from the Director
Sharon Soames, Director
We at Christmas in the Country encourage you to take this creative journey and enjoy a very fun-filled and unique weekend on Bainbridge Island full of merry memories.
May you have a very Merry Christmas in the Country!
Sharon Soames, Founder and Director Christmas in the Country LLC (206) 842-6883 chrisincountry@aol.com
