The seasonal festivals celebrated throughout the year are an important part of life at a Waldorf school. Every child is expected to attend school on festival days. The dates of festivals are listed in the school year calendar and their details announced in the newsletter. In addition to the major festivals detailed below, the school celebrates other holidays and events; in the past these have included Halloween, the Lantern Walk (for early childhood classes in early November), Thanksgiving, Winterfest, and May Day. Teachers may also choose to celebrate other seasonal or cultural festival days. Nursery and Kindergarten families should check with their teachers to see which of these school-wide events their classes will attend and how they will be celebrated.
Major Festivals of the Year:
Michaelmas
The Festival of Courage takes place in late September, as the entire school community assembles as a medieval village and watches the tale of St. George and the Dragon enacted by one of the grade school classes. Children in older grades then set up “tasks of courage” for their younger grade school peers, culminating in a raid on the “dragon’s lair.”
The Spiral of Lights
Celebrated close to the winter solstice, this Festival of Love and Light marks the presence of growing light in the darkest time of the year. Participants walk through a spiral to light a candle and add their gift of light to all.
The Spring Celebration
This Festival is celebrated close to the spring equinox, which often falls near Easter and Passover. It marks the birth of new life and rebirth of the earth each spring. Various activities have become traditional at CWS and often include
faculty performances for the children, a school-wide shared meal, a middle-school egg drop, and early childhood and early grades hunt for treasures.
Mid-Summer Festival
This Festival of Balance is celebrated close to the summer solstice. It may include a pot-luck supper, an abbreviated performance of A MidsummerNight’s Dream, and a bonfire.
We also have two large fundraising events for the year that are open to the general public.
The Holiday Bazaar
Come enjoy traditional craft-making and shop from local artisans in a festive celebration of the season. This year, our Holiday Bazaar is on December 3, from 10AM - 4PM.
SCHEDULE
11AM - 1PM: Rudolf's Diner is open, catered by Harvest Moon.
11AM, 1PM, 2PM: "Mashenka and the Bear," a Russian folk tale puppet play performed by our Early Childhood faculty. Purchase tickets booths. Adults $3, Children $2, Family $10
12PM - 2PM: A local poet writes poems for you and your loved ones.
1PM: Falconry exhibit
3:30: Raffle drawings in the diner.
Local musicians will perform throughout the day outside by the bonfire.
ACTIVITIES
Secret Garden: Visit the magical place where children ages 3 - 8 choose holiday gifts for friends and family.
Cookie Decorating: Come decorate cookies with your favorite toppings!
Leather Stamping: Stamp your own leather bracelets and necklaces.
Hair Feathers: Create your own feather hair extensions.
Candle Holders: Make a candleholder and adorn it for the holidays!
Candle Dipping: Come build your own beeswax creation.
Wreathmaking: Make a wreath, large or small.
Jump Rope Making: Spin your own handmade jump rope.
Visit the pocket lady for treasures hidden in her cape!
SHOP
This year we have 26 vendors selling everything from felted food toys to hand dyed silks! Friday night we will host a preview "Sneak Peek" shopping event from 6 - 9PM. So book a babysitter and come out for some exclusive shopping with wine and cheese.