Mill Museum is alight with holiday cheer

A tiny tea party graces a table featuring handmade note cards at the Holiday Shop, a new feature this holiday season at the Textile and History Museum in Willimantic. Photos by Melanie Savage.

The main room of the Windham Textile and History Museum is currently awash in color and lights. The museum has long featured a number of local artisans in its front room gift shop. This year, volunteers decided to take the idea a step further. Holiday shopping at the Mill Museum offers a wide variety of handmade local arts and crafts, including jewelry, hand-knit caps and mittens, handmade gift cards and artwork.

“It just seemed a really good use of space and it’s a good way to show off some really good local artisans,” said Faith Kenton, a museum board member who is overseeing the shop. “Artists and crafters will be slightly different each weekend, so the public is encouraged to come more than once,” according to the museum website.

The shop will be open for two more weekends before Christmas: Dec. 14, 15 and 16 and Dec. 21, 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge. All sales will benefit the museum.

In addition, the museum will be holding a Christmas tree silent auction on Friday, Dec. 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a holiday reception with wine, cider, cheese and holiday treats before the auction. Winners will be announced at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $10, with children under 12 admitted free.

For additional information, contact 860-456-0817 or themillmuseum@gmail.com. The museum is located at 411 Main St., in Willimantic.