>>> COMING UP, WE'RE HERE AT OLD STUR BRIDGE VIG TO CELEBRATE THE STUR BRIDGE VIG TO CELEBRATE THE HOTS BY CONNECTING WITH YOU THE HOTS BY CONNECTING WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNY, INCDING FESTIVITIES COMMUNY, INCDING FESTIVITIES INSPIRED BY A BYGONERA.

INSPIRED BY A BYGONERA.

>> SO IN 18 40S WE START TO GET >> SO IN 18 40S WE START TO GET SOME OF THOSE CHRISTMAS CAROLS SOME OF THOSE CHRISTMAS CAROLS OVER HER OVER HER AS WE SAW TO SEE QUEEN VICTORI AS WE SAW TO SEE QUEEN VICTORI AND PNCE ALBERT CELRATING AND PNCE ALBERT CELRATING CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.

>>> WE'LL GO IN SEARCH OF SANTA >>> WE'LL GO IN SEARCH OF SANTA AT THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM.

AT THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM.

>> TAKING A DIFFERENT TACK.

>> TAKING A DIFFERENT TACK.

NOT REALLY REPLACI A CHARACTER NOT REALLY REPLACI A CHARACTER ESSING IT IS UP A LITE BITF ESSING IT IS UP A LITE BITF FOR E HOLIDAYS.

FOR E HOLIDAYS.

>> AND WE'LL TRAVEL TO GREAT >> AND WE'LL TRAVEL TO GREAT RRINGTONO FIND A CHRTMAS RRINGTONO FIND A CHRTMAS TREE.

TREE.

>> THE DEER RUB OFF HALF OF IT.

>> THE DEER RUB OFF HALF OF IT.

THAT'S MY PERCT TREE.

THAT'S MY PERCT TREE.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS EXPREHE KRAFTISTE -- MORE AS EXPREHE KRAFTISTE -- KRAFTISTE, THAT -- CREATIVITY KRAFTISTE, THAT -- CREATIVITY AND CULTURE THAT MAKE US WESTERN AND CULTURE THAT MAKE US WESTERN >>> WELCOMEACK AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOMEACK AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR A SPECI HOLIDAY JOINING US FOR A SPECI HOLIDAY EPISODE OF "CONNECTING POI."

EPISODE OF "CONNECTING POI."

YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM HISTORIC OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE, HISTORIC OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE, KNOWN SR AND WID THROUGHOUT KNOWN SR AND WID THROUGHOUT THE REGIONND THE COUNTRY.

THE REGIONND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S THE LARGEST LIVING MUSEUM IT'S THE LARGEST LIVING MUSEUM IN NEW ENGLAND, WHERE HISTORY IN NEW ENGLAND, WHERE HISTORY COMES TO LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF COMES TO LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF VISITOR EVERY YEAR.

VISITOR EVERY YEAR.

RHYS SIMMONS SPOKE TO ME.

RHYS SIMMONS SPOKE TO ME.

>> IT OPENED UP IN 1946.

>> IT OPENED UP IN 1946.

WE TELL THE STORY OF THE 1830S WE TELL THE STORY OF THE 1830S AND THROUGH EVERY DAY LIFE.

AND THROUGH EVERY DAY LIFE.

IT'S THE CRUX OF THE MUSEUM.

IT'S THE CRUX OF THE MUSEUM.

SO WE TRY TO TELL THE STORY SO WE TRY TO TELL THE STORY THROUGH THE INTERPRETATION OF THROUGH THE INTERPRETATION OF HOUSEHOLDS, THE TERMS OF TRADE HOUSEHOLDS, THE TERMS OF TRADE SHOT -- TERMS -- INTERPRETSES OF SHOT -- TERMS -- INTERPRETSES OF TRADE OFFICES, OR THE TAVERN.

TRADE OFFICES, OR THE TAVERN.

AND THE MEETING HOUSE IN BACK IS AND THE MEETING HOUSE IN BACK IS A CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS CENTER FOR A CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS CENTER FOR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO HERE IS SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO HERE IS REALLY TELL THE HISTORY THROUGH REALLY TELL THE HISTORY THROUGH THE ACT OF PARTING IN AN AC -- THE ACT OF PARTING IN AN AC -- PARTICIPATING IN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATING IN AN ACTIVE HOUSEHOLD, ACTIVE TRAIT SHOPS, HOUSEHOLD, ACTIVE TRAIT SHOPS, ACTIVE GARDENS, AND A FARM.

ACTIVE GARDENS, AND A FARM.

>> THE VILLAGE IS A SPECIAL >> THE VILLAGE IS A SPECIAL PLACE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, PLACE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT EVEN MORE SO DURING THE BUT EVEN MORE SO DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

HOLIDAYS.

EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON HERE AT OLD EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON HERE AT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE, VISITORS ARE STURBRIDGE VILLAGE, VISITORS ARE INVITED TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC INVITED TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF A CANDLELIT NEW ENGLAND OF A CANDLELIT NEW ENGLAND TOWNSHIP WHILE LEARNING THE TOWNSHIP WHILE LEARNING THE HISTORY OF TODAY'S CHRISTMAS.

HISTORY OF TODAY'S CHRISTMAS.

IT HAS A CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL, A IT HAS A CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL, A HORSE-DRAWN CARRY-ALL, AND A HORSE-DRAWN CARRY-ALL, AND A NIGHTLY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.

NIGHTLY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER EXPERIENCED PRODUCER DAVE FRASER EXPERIENCED CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT EARLIER CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT EARLIER THIS MONTH BEFORE THE SNOW FELL THIS MONTH BEFORE THE SNOW FELL AND SHARES THIS STORY.

AND SHARES THIS STORY.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> SO OUR CHRISTMAS BY >> SO OUR CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT PROGRAM HAS BEEN A CANDLELIGHT PROGRAM HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND WE STARTED BACK IN THE EARLY WE STARTED BACK IN THE EARLY 2000s.

2000s.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY GROWN AND AND IT'S DEFINITELY GROWN AND INVOLVED OVER THE LAST, DAY, 20, INVOLVED OVER THE LAST, DAY, 20, 22 YEARS.

22 YEARS.

EVOLVED.

EVOLVED.

AND NOW WE CELEBRATE BY AND NOW WE CELEBRATE BY WELCOMING IN ALMOST 30,000 WELCOMING IN ALMOST 30,000 VISITORS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

VISITORS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS BECOME WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS BECOME PART OF FAMILIES' TRADITION, PART OF FAMILIES' TRADITION, COMING HERE AND EXPLORING THE COMING HERE AND EXPLORING THE MUSEUM ALL DECORATED.

MUSEUM ALL DECORATED.

>> Together: THREE, TWO, ONE!

>> Together: THREE, TWO, ONE!

[CHEERING] [CHEERING] >> EXRIMENTS BY CANDLELIGHT HERE >> EXRIMENTS BY CANDLELIGHT HERE IS REALLY -- CHRISTMAS BY IS REALLY -- CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT HERE IS REALLY LIKE CANDLELIGHT HERE IS REALLY LIKE ANYTHING ELSE WE DO.

ANYTHING ELSE WE DO.

WE CAN'T TELL STORIES OF 1830S.

WE CAN'T TELL STORIES OF 1830S.

IT WANTS HERE YET.

IT WANTS HERE YET.

SO WE GET TO TALK ABOUT SO WE GET TO TALK ABOUT CHRISTMAS DID DEVELOP THROUGH CHRISTMAS DID DEVELOP THROUGH THE 19TH CENTURY IN NEW ENGLAND.

THE 19TH CENTURY IN NEW ENGLAND.

SO WE GET TO TALK A LITTLE BIT SO WE GET TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, BIG PICTURE, SHARE HOW MORE, BIG PICTURE, SHARE HOW SOME OF THE TRADITIONS CAME INTO SOME OF THE TRADITIONS CAME INTO THIS AREA, SHARE ABOUT SOME OF THIS AREA, SHARE ABOUT SOME OF THE CULTURES THAT THEY CAME FROM THE CULTURES THAT THEY CAME FROM AND THE TRADITIONS WE ADOPTED AND THE TRADITIONS WE ADOPTED INTO OUR OWN CELEBRATIONS.

INTO OUR OWN CELEBRATIONS.

AND SHARE A BIT ABOUT HOW IT AND SHARE A BIT ABOUT HOW IT BECAME THE HUGE EVENT THAT WE BECAME THE HUGE EVENT THAT WE KNOW TODAY.

KNOW TODAY.

>> SO I'M MAKING A MODERN TWIST >> SO I'M MAKING A MODERN TWIST ON A CLASSIC RECIPE.

ON A CLASSIC RECIPE.

THIS IS A SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH.

THIS IS A SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH.

IT'S QUITE COLD RIGHT NOW, JUST IT'S QUITE COLD RIGHT NOW, JUST THE WAY WE LIKE IT.

THE WAY WE LIKE IT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FILLING AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FILLING OUR SUGAR COOKIES WITH THAT OUR SUGAR COOKIES WITH THAT MINCEMEAT PIE FILLING MIXTURE, A MINCEMEAT PIE FILLING MIXTURE, A WAIT WAY AS TO MODERNIZE AN ACE WAIT WAY AS TO MODERNIZE AN ACE TORQUE RECIPE.

TORQUE RECIPE.

PIES ARE PART OF A MEAL.

PIES ARE PART OF A MEAL.

SO WE DON'T DO DESSERT AS A SO WE DON'T DO DESSERT AS A SEPARATE AFFAIR, BUT WE WILL SEPARATE AFFAIR, BUT WE WILL HAVE ROAST AND SIDES TO GO ALONG HAVE ROAST AND SIDES TO GO ALONG WITH.

WITH.

AND WE'RE EATING THAT WHOLE MEAL AND WE'RE EATING THAT WHOLE MEAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY RATHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY RATHER THAN IN THE EVENING.

THAN IN THE EVENING.

>> SO A LOT OF THE WORK IS BEING >> SO A LOT OF THE WORK IS BEING DONE WITH VERY SIMPLE TOOLS.

DONE WITH VERY SIMPLE TOOLS.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH KNIVES AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH KNIVES AND HAND DRILLS AND THINGS THAT ARE HAND DRILLS AND THINGS THAT ARE VERY COMMONLY AVAILABLE.

VERY COMMONLY AVAILABLE.

WE HAVE WOODEN GAME BOARDS, WE HAVE WOODEN GAME BOARDS, GAMES LIKE NINE MAN'S MORRIS IS GAMES LIKE NINE MAN'S MORRIS IS A POPULAR GAME IN THE PERIOD.

A POPULAR GAME IN THE PERIOD.

IT'S NOT AS FAMILIAR TODAY AS IT IT'S NOT AS FAMILIAR TODAY AS IT WAS BACK THEN.

WAS BACK THEN.

WE HAVE A CUP AND BALL GAME WE HAVE A CUP AND BALL GAME WHERE YOU HAVE A BALL ON A WHERE YOU HAVE A BALL ON A STRING AND YOU CATCH IT IN A STRING AND YOU CATCH IT IN A CARVED WOODEN CUP.

CARVED WOODEN CUP.

WOODEN ITEMS LIKE FARM ANIMALS WOODEN ITEMS LIKE FARM ANIMALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR HERE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY HERE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE PARENTS ARE FARMERS.

BECAUSE PARENTS ARE FARMERS.

SO TOYS THAT CHILDREN CAN SO TOYS THAT CHILDREN CAN EMULATE WHEN THEIR PARENTS DO EMULATE WHEN THEIR PARENTS DO WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR.

WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> MUSIC IN THE 1830S WOULD HAVE >> MUSIC IN THE 1830S WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT YOU WERE HEARING EVERY BEEN WHAT YOU WERE HEARING EVERY DAY.

DAY.

THERE WERE NO SET CHRISTMAS THERE WERE NO SET CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THIS TIME.

CAROLS AT THIS TIME.

YOU'D BE HEARING A LOT OF YOU'D BE HEARING A LOT OF PARLOR-TYPE MUSIC.

PARLOR-TYPE MUSIC.

REALLY HITTING THAT EPITOME OF REALLY HITTING THAT EPITOME OF THE PARLON MUSIC WE KNOW TODAY, THE PARLON MUSIC WE KNOW TODAY, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SING-ALONGS SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SING-ALONGS AROUND THE PEONIA.

AROUND THE PEONIA.

A -- PIANO.

A -- PIANO.

A LIVE MUSICIAN MIGHT BE PLAYING A LIVE MUSICIAN MIGHT BE PLAYING THE EVENT.

THE EVENT.

RELIGIOUS MUSIC WAS A LITTLE RELIGIOUS MUSIC WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SO I WOULDN'T SAY ALL DIFFERENT SO I WOULDN'T SAY ALL THE CAROLS WERE BEING PERFORMED THE CAROLS WERE BEING PERFORMED IN THAT SETTLING, BUT WE KNOW IT IN THAT SETTLING, BUT WE KNOW IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MASSACHUSETTS CHRISTMAS CAROLS, MASSACHUSETTS CHRISTMAS CAROLS, WAS BITTEN BY -- WRITTEN BY A WAS BITTEN BY -- WRITTEN BY A PASTOR IN WAYLAND, PASTOR IN WAYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

♪ IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT ♪ IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR .

CLEAR .

>> SO WE GO THROUGH A DRASTIC >> SO WE GO THROUGH A DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE 18 40S BECAUSE WE CHANGE IN THE 18 40S BECAUSE WE START SEEING QUEEN VICTORIA AND START SEEING QUEEN VICTORIA AND PRINCE ALBERT CELEBRATING PRINCE ALBERT CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.

WE GET THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS OVER WE GET THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS OVER HIGHWAY.

HIGHWAY.

SOME OF OUR OWN MASSACHUSETTS SOME OF OUR OWN MASSACHUSETTS WRITTEN CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

WRITTEN CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

AND BY THE 1850S, YOU'RE AND BY THE 1850S, YOU'RE STARTING TO GET MORE OF AN STARTING TO GET MORE OF AN INFLUX OF SPECIFICALLY HOLIDAY INFLUX OF SPECIFICALLY HOLIDAY MUSIC IN THIS AREA.

MUSIC IN THIS AREA.

♪ PEACE ON THE EARTH ♪ PEACE ON THE EARTH GOODWILL TOWARD MEN ♪ GOODWILL TOWARD MEN ♪ ♪ FROM 11'S OUGHT GRACIOUS -- ♪ FROM 11'S OUGHT GRACIOUS -- HEAVEN'S ALL GRACIOUS KING ♪ HEAVEN'S ALL GRACIOUS KING ♪ ♪ THE WORLD IN SOLEMN STILLNESS ♪ THE WORLD IN SOLEMN STILLNESS WAIT WAIT TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING ♪ TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING ♪ >> SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND >> SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES ON OUR INSTAGRAM.

THE SCENES ON OUR INSTAGRAM.

FOLLOW US ON CPONNEPM FOR FOLLOW US ON CPONNEPM FOR EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEKS AND EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEKS AND CONTENT ALL YEAR ROUND.

CONTENT ALL YEAR ROUND.

>>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN >>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN FULL SWING AT THE BERKSHIRE FULL SWING AT THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM IN PITTSFIELD WITH THE MUSEUM IN PITTSFIELD WITH THE OPENING OF THEIR WINTER OPENING OF THEIR WINTER FESTIVAL, SOLSTICE CELEBRATION FESTIVAL, SOLSTICE CELEBRATION EXHIBITT.

EXHIBITT.

-- COMMITTERS.

-- COMMITTERS.

IT INCLUDES SANTA CLASSICS WHERE IT INCLUDES SANTA CLASSICS WHERE VISITORS CAN SEE SANTA IN VISITORS CAN SEE SANTA IN CLASSICAL WORKS OF ART, CLASSICAL WORKS OF ART, INCLUDING HOOTS HOLIDAYS.

INCLUDING HOOTS HOLIDAYS.

I VISITED THE MUSEUM AND SPOKE I VISITED THE MUSEUM AND SPOKE WITH ORGANIZERS OF THE EXHIBITS WITH ORGANIZERS OF THE EXHIBITS TO LEARN MORE.

TO LEARN MORE.

AND FULL DISCLOSURE -- BERKSHIRE AND FULL DISCLOSURE -- BERKSHIRE MUSEUM IS A FINANCIAL SUPPORTER MUSEUM IS A FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

OF NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> WE ALWAYS LOVE FESTIVAL OF >> WE ALWAYS LOVE FESTIVAL OF TREES AT THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM.

TREES AT THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM.

AND WE NOT HOW DO WE TAKE THE AND WE NOT HOW DO WE TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND MAKE IT MORE NEXT STEP AND MAKE IT MORE INCLUE AND I HAVE AND INCLUE AND I HAVE AND WELCOMING -- AND COMING TO WELCOMING -- AND COMING TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND VISITED US EVERYONE WHO CAME AND VISITED US HERE.

HERE.

WHAT'S THE -- WE THOUGHT WHAT'S THE -- WE THOUGHT STORIES, THE NATURE AND THE STORIES, THE NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS, AND FOOD AND MUSIC.

OUTDOORS, AND FOOD AND MUSIC.

AND WE WANTED TO CRAFT AN AND WE WANTED TO CRAFT AN EXPERIENCE AROUND THAT.

EXPERIENCE AROUND THAT.

>> SO ONE OF THE EXHIBITS THAT >> SO ONE OF THE EXHIBITS THAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS CELEBRATION IS INCLUDED IN THIS CELEBRATION IS HOOTS HOLIDAY WHICH WE'RE IN IS HOOTS HOLIDAY WHICH WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT NOW.

THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT NOW.

AND CHARLIE, I KNOW THIS CAME AND CHARLIE, I KNOW THIS CAME FROM YOU.

FROM YOU.

YOU WROTE THE WHOLE THING.

YOU WROTE THE WHOLE THING.

WALK ME HOW THIS TALE WAS BORN.

WALK ME HOW THIS TALE WAS BORN.

>> IT CAME ABOUT AS A REALLY >> IT CAME ABOUT AS A REALLY COLLABORATIVE IDEA BETWEEN ME COLLABORATIVE IDEA BETWEEN ME AND OUR PREVIOUS CHIEF AND OUR PREVIOUS CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER.

EXPERIENCE OFFICER.

AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW TO UTILIZE THE ROOMS THAT WE HOW TO UTILIZE THE ROOMS THAT WE HAVE IN THESE GALLERIES, TO MAKE HAVE IN THESE GALLERIES, TO MAKE LIKE A REALLY IMMERSIVE LIKE A REALLY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

THE STORY KIND OF HIPPINGS ON -- THE STORY KIND OF HIPPINGS ON -- HINGES ON THIS OWL THAT LIVES ON HINGES ON THIS OWL THAT LIVES ON TOP OF THE MUSEUM NAMED HOOT AND TOP OF THE MUSEUM NAMED HOOT AND THEY TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE THEY TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE BERKSHIRES THROUGH DIFFERENT BERKSHIRES THROUGH DIFFERENT TIMES IN HISTORY.

TIMES IN HISTORY.

AND KIND OF DRIVING THE STORY IS AND KIND OF DRIVING THE STORY IS THIS IDEA OF THE WINTER THIS IDEA OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE.

SOLSTICE.

SO THEY HAVE THIS MAGICAL POCKET SO THEY HAVE THIS MAGICAL POCKET WATCH, AND SO TIME IS A BIG WATCH, AND SO TIME IS A BIG DRIVING FACTOR AND ALSO THE MOON DRIVING FACTOR AND ALSO THE MOON IS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE IS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE, RISING UP AND EXPERIENCE, RISING UP AND GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

AND THEN THAT KIND OF CULMINATES AND THEN THAT KIND OF CULMINATES IN OUR REALLY AWESOME MOON IN OUR REALLY AWESOME MOON INSTALLATION BY THE ARTIST LUKE INSTALLATION BY THE ARTIST LUKE JESHAM.

JESHAM.

IT'S THIS 10-FOOT DIAMETER IT'S THIS 10-FOOT DIAMETER INTERNALLY LIT MOON THAT YOU INTERNALLY LIT MOON THAT YOU KIND OF COME AROUND THE CORNER KIND OF COME AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE GALLERY AND IT JUST FROM THE GALLERY AND IT JUST REALLY WOWS YOU.

REALLY WOWS YOU.

>> IT'S DESCRIBED AS A LIVING >> IT'S DESCRIBED AS A LIVING STORYBOOK.

STORYBOOK.

AND AS SOON AS I WALKED IN, I AND AS SOON AS I WALKED IN, I WAS LIKE, I SEE EXACTLY WHY, WAS LIKE, I SEE EXACTLY WHY, BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WALKING INSIDE OF A BOOK.

WALKING INSIDE OF A BOOK.

ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE HISTORIC LOCATIONS THAT VISITORS HISTORIC LOCATIONS THAT VISITORS WILL GO ON WITH HOOT, THE OWL, WILL GO ON WITH HOOT, THE OWL, AND SOME FUN FACTS THAT WE'LL AND SOME FUN FACTS THAT WE'LL GET TO LEARN ABOUT THE GET TO LEARN ABOUT THE BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCATIONS >> ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCATIONS THAT HOOT IS A WORKSHOP WHERE WE THAT HOOT IS A WORKSHOP WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE PITTSFIELD ELM, TALK ABOUT THE PITTSFIELD ELM, WHICH WAS THIS MASSIVE TREE THAT WHICH WAS THIS MASSIVE TREE THAT STOOD IN THE MAIN SQUARE OF STOOD IN THE MAIN SQUARE OF PITTSFIELD.

PITTSFIELD.

I REALLY LIKE THAT STORY BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE THAT STORY BECAUSE IT KIND OF TOUCHES ON THE WAY IT KIND OF TOUCHES ON THE WAY THAT NATURE HAS SHAIPTD THE THAT NATURE HAS SHAIPTD THE BERKSHIRES -- SHAPED THE BERKSHIRES -- SHAPED THE BERKSHIRES AND HOW IT WAS AN BERKSHIRES AND HOW IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY EVEN AFTER IT FELL.

EVEN AFTER IT FELL.

WE HAVE A PARLOR ROOM THAT WE HAVE A PARLOR ROOM THAT BELONGS TO ZENUS CREPE, THE BELONGS TO ZENUS CREPE, THE FOUNDERTS OF THE MUSEUM.

FOUNDERTS OF THE MUSEUM.

-- FOUNDER OF THE MUSEUM.

-- FOUNDER OF THE MUSEUM.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR OWN HISTORY TO TALK ABOUT OUR OWN HISTORY AND HOW WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING AND HOW WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING NATURAL HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND NATURAL HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND ART INTO THE BERKSHIRES.

ART INTO THE BERKSHIRES.

AND WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW AND WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE TODAY.

TODAY.

>> SO THE SECOND PART OF THIS >> SO THE SECOND PART OF THIS EXHIBITION, HONESTLY IT MADE ME EXHIBITION, HONESTLY IT MADE ME LAUGH WHEN I SAW IT -- IT'S LAUGH WHEN I SAW IT -- IT'S CALLED SANTA CLASSICS.

CALLED SANTA CLASSICS.

AND YOU WILL SEE SANTA POP UP IN AND YOU WILL SEE SANTA POP UP IN SOME FAMOUS CLASSIC WORKS OF SOME FAMOUS CLASSIC WORKS OF ART.

ART.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ARTIST ED WHEELER AND ABOUT THE ARTIST ED WHEELER AND HIS WORK AND HOW YOU GUYS CAME HIS WORK AND HOW YOU GUYS CAME TO BE WITH THIS EXHIBIT.

TO BE WITH THIS EXHIBIT.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

ED WHEELER IS A PRETTY FANTASTIC ED WHEELER IS A PRETTY FANTASTIC ARTIST.

ARTIST.

HE HAS SOME LOCAL CONNECTIONS.

HE HAS SOME LOCAL CONNECTIONS.

AND WE MET AND HIS WORK REALLY AND WE MET AND HIS WORK REALLY IS -- AS YOU SAID, INSERTING IS -- AS YOU SAID, INSERTING DIGITAL IMAGES OF HIMSELF AS DIGITAL IMAGES OF HIMSELF AS SANTA IN THESE VARIOUS CLASSICAL SANTA IN THESE VARIOUS CLASSICAL WORKS OF ART.

WORKS OF ART.

HE GOES THROUGH A BIT OF AN HE GOES THROUGH A BIT OF AN EXTENSIVE AND VERY PROCESSED, EXTENSIVE AND VERY PROCESSED, LIKE WHICH WORKS AND HOW EXACTLY LIKE WHICH WORKS AND HOW EXACTLY SANTA IS BEING INSERTED IN.

SANTA IS BEING INSERTED IN.

BUT REALLY, HE -- HE I THINK IS BUT REALLY, HE -- HE I THINK IS JUST TRYING TO PROMOTE THE JUST TRYING TO PROMOTE THE WHIMSY AND FUN THAT IS SO WHIMSY AND FUN THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE SEASON.

IMPORTANT TO THE SEASON.

>> I THINK WHEN I WAS LOOKING >> I THINK WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH IT, THE MAN FROM LEO THROUGH IT, THE MAN FROM LEO NARDI DA VINCI, THAT STUCK OUT.

NARDI DA VINCI, THAT STUCK OUT.

IT WAS LIKE THE CONTRAST OF THE IT WAS LIKE THE CONTRAST OF THE NEUTRAL COLOR WITH THE RED AND NEUTRAL COLOR WITH THE RED AND WHITE.

WHITE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES FROM SANTA CLASSICS?

FROM SANTA CLASSICS?

>> I REALLY LOVE THE AMERICAN >> I REALLY LOVE THE AMERICAN GOTHIC, WHICH WE HAVE ABOVE THE GOTHIC, WHICH WE HAVE ABOVE THE FIREPLACE.

FIREPLACE.

I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT UP THERE.

I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT UP THERE.

THE EXPRESSION THAT HE HAS IS THE EXPRESSION THAT HE HAS IS REALLY FUNNY.

REALLY FUNNY.

>> I REALLY LIKE THE VAN GOGH >> I REALLY LIKE THE VAN GOGH STARRY NIGHT.

STARRY NIGHT.

IT'S TAKING A DIFFERENT TACT, IT'S TAKING A DIFFERENT TACT, NOT REALLY REPLACING A NOT REALLY REPLACING A CHARACTER, BUT JUST KIND OF CHARACTER, BUT JUST KIND OF DRESSING IT UP A LITTLE BIT FOR DRESSING IT UP A LITTLE BIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

THE HOLIDAYS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE VISITORS >> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE VISITORS TO LEAVE WITH ONCE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE WITH ONCE THEY HAVE TAKEN HOOT'S JOURNEY AND HAD A TAKEN HOOT'S JOURNEY AND HAD A COUPLE LAUGHS VIEWING SANTA COUPLE LAUGHS VIEWING SANTA CLASSICS?

CLASSICS?

>> I HOPE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME, >> I HOPE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME, THEY LEAVE WITH THIS KIND OF THEY LEAVE WITH THIS KIND OF EXCITEMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

EXCITEMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN THE BERKSHIRES OF THE JUST IN THE BERKSHIRES OF THE JUST HAVING THAT REALLY LOCAL FOCUS, HAVING THAT REALLY LOCAL FOCUS, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

US.

AND JUST CAPTURING THE FEELING AND JUST CAPTURING THE FEELING OF THIS GREAT TIME TO BE IN OF THIS GREAT TIME TO BE IN PITTSFIELD RIGHT NOW.

PITTSFIELD RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WREAK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WREAK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXPLIEWF, WE EXPLORE THE HOLIDAY EXPLIEWF, WE EXPLORE THE HOLIDAY YULETIDE FESTIVAL AT STORROTON YULETIDE FESTIVAL AT STORROTON VILLAGE MUSEUM IN WEST VILLAGE MUSEUM IN WEST SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT ST. NICHOLAS >> WE TALKED ABOUT ST. NICHOLAS AND WHAT HE REALLY LOOKED LIKE.

AND WHAT HE REALLY LOOKED LIKE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF DARK FIGURES THERE WERE A LOT OF DARK FIGURES CONNECTED TO SAINT NICHOLAS.

CONNECTED TO SAINT NICHOLAS.

AND DEPENDING ON THE CULTURE AND DEPENDING ON THE CULTURE THAT LOOK DIFFERENT, BELL THAT LOOK DIFFERENT, BELL SNIFFLE IS ONE TO COMES TO MIND SNIFFLE IS ONE TO COMES TO MIND AND HE WAS KIND OF THE DARK SIDE AND HE WAS KIND OF THE DARK SIDE OF CHRISTMAS IN THE GERMAN OF CHRISTMAS IN THE GERMAN TRADITION.

TRADITION.

HE WOULD GO AROUND PRIOR TO HE WOULD GO AROUND PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS AND IDENTIFY THE CHRISTMAS AND IDENTIFY THE NAUGHTY CHILDREN.

NAUGHTY CHILDREN.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FINDING JUST THE RIGHT >>> FINDING JUST THE RIGHT CHRISTMAS TREE ISN'T ALWAYS THE CHRISTMAS TREE ISN'T ALWAYS THE EASIEST TASK, BUT WHEN IT'S DONE EASIEST TASK, BUT WHEN IT'S DONE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY, IT CAN BE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY, IT CAN BE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.

A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.

ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF FUN IS ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF FUN IS THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO THE FIELD AND CUT DOWN YOUR INTO THE FIELD AND CUT DOWN YOUR OWN.

OWN.

AT SEEKONK TREE FARM, THE LAST AT SEEKONK TREE FARM, THE LAST CHANCE FOR FOLKS TO HAVE THEIR CHANCE FOR FOLKS TO HAVE THEIR OWN TREE CUTTING ADVENTURE WAS OWN TREE CUTTING ADVENTURE WAS THE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER.

THE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER.

AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO GREAT SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO GREAT BARRINGTON TO BRING US THE BARRINGTON TO BRING US THE STORY.

STORY.

>> THE TIME-HONORED TRADITION OF >> THE TIME-HONORED TRADITION OF A FAMILY HEADING OUT TO THE A FAMILY HEADING OUT TO THE WILDERNESS TO CUT DOWN THEIR OWN WILDERNESS TO CUT DOWN THEIR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE SEEMS LIKE THE CHRISTMAS TREE SEEMS LIKE THE KIND OF THING THAT WAS LIKELY KIND OF THING THAT WAS LIKELY IMMORTALIZED IN A NORMAN IMMORTALIZED IN A NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTING.

ROCKWELL PAINTING.

WHAT BETTER PLACE TO FIND LIFE WHAT BETTER PLACE TO FIND LIFE IMITATING ART THAN IN IMITATING ART THAN IN STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS IS THE OUTER EDGE OF GREAT THIS IS THE OUTER EDGE OF GREAT BARRINGTON AND IF THERE'S A BARRINGTON AND IF THERE'S A VEHICLE THIS COOL, CRISP, AND VEHICLE THIS COOL, CRISP, AND SUNNY SATURDAY, THERE'S A GOOD SUNNY SATURDAY, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT'S HEADED TO LOT NUMBER CHANCE IT'S HEADED TO LOT NUMBER TWO OR LOT NUMBER THREE OF THE TWO OR LOT NUMBER THREE OF THE SEEKONK TREE FARM.

SEEKONK TREE FARM.

IT WAS ON LOT THREE WHERE THE IT WAS ON LOT THREE WHERE THE DREAMS WERE FIRST PLANTED BACK DREAMS WERE FIRST PLANTED BACK IN 1978 AND EVERY MORNING THAT IN 1978 AND EVERY MORNING THAT PETER SWEET SENIOR GETS TO WAKE PETER SWEET SENIOR GETS TO WAKE UP TO THIS VIEW, SHE CAN REST UP TO THIS VIEW, SHE CAN REST ASSURED THAT HE PICKED THE -- HE ASSURED THAT HE PICKED THE -- HE CAN REST ASSURED THAT HE PICKED CAN REST ASSURED THAT HE PICKED THE RIGHT SPOT.

THE RIGHT SPOT.

>> I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO >> I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KNOW THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE KNOW THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, WAS A 250-ACRE FARM.

PROPERTY, WAS A 250-ACRE FARM.

AND I WAS FRIENDS WITH THE AND I WAS FRIENDS WITH THE CHILDREN.

CHILDREN.

AND EVENTUALLY I ENDED UP BEING AND EVENTUALLY I ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO BUY THE FIRST PIECE OF ABLE TO BUY THE FIRST PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM THE MOTHER THAT PROPERTY FROM THE MOTHER THAT OWNED THE FARM.

OWNED THE FARM.

AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL AREA.

AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL AREA.

I MEAN, LUCKY TO HAVE IT.

I MEAN, LUCKY TO HAVE IT.

>> AS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT >> AS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT TREE, THE CARE, PRECISION, AND TREE, THE CARE, PRECISION, AND SCRUTINY THAT ARE APPLIED IN THE SCRUTINY THAT ARE APPLIED IN THE PROCESS MIGHT ONLY BE RIVALED BY PROCESS MIGHT ONLY BE RIVALED BY THAT OF PURCHASING A NEW CAR OR THAT OF PURCHASING A NEW CAR OR HOUSE.

HOUSE.

MAKING THE TASK EVEN MORE MAKING THE TASK EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IS THE SHEAR VOLUME OF DIFFICULT IS THE SHEAR VOLUME OF TREES TO CHOOSE FROM, WHETHER TREES TO CHOOSE FROM, WHETHER FREE STANDING OR PRECALL.

FREE STANDING OR PRECALL.

>> THIS IS ABOUT 9,000 TREES ON >> THIS IS ABOUT 9,000 TREES ON THIS LOT WHEN IT'S FULLY PLANTED THIS LOT WHEN IT'S FULLY PLANTED IN ALL DIFFERENT STAGES.

IN ALL DIFFERENT STAGES.

THEN WE HAVE PROBABLY 22 TO 25 THEN WE HAVE PROBABLY 22 TO 25 TOTAL.

TOTAL.

LOT THREE IS ANOTHER 7-7-ACHIER LOT THREE IS ANOTHER 7-7-ACHIER PARCEL AND LOT TWO IS PARCEL AND LOT TWO IS ANOTHER-SEVEN ACRES.

ANOTHER-SEVEN ACRES.

AND NEIGHBORS LAND THAT WE USE AND NEIGHBORS LAND THAT WE USE EVE AND THERE.

EVE AND THERE.

SO 30 TO 40 THOUSAND TREES IN SO 30 TO 40 THOUSAND TREES IN PRODUCTION.

PRODUCTION.

>> LOT ONE WAS THE PLACE TO BE >> LOT ONE WAS THE PLACE TO BE FOR PRECUT TREES.

FOR PRECUT TREES.

THERE'S THE GIFT SHOP HERE WHICH THERE'S THE GIFT SHOP HERE WHICH IS A POPULAR ATTRACTION SINCE IS A POPULAR ATTRACTION SINCE 2020.

2020.

BUT FOR FOLKS LOOKING TO GET OUT BUT FOR FOLKS LOOKING TO GET OUT THERE AND CUT THEIR OWN, LOT THERE AND CUT THEIR OWN, LOT THREE WAS THE DESIGNATION.

THREE WAS THE DESIGNATION.

FOR YOUNGER BROTHER CHRIS SWEET, FOR YOUNGER BROTHER CHRIS SWEET, WHO TAKES TIME AWAY FROM HIS OWN WHO TAKES TIME AWAY FROM HIS OWN TREE BUSINESS JUST A MILE UP THE TREE BUSINESS JUST A MILE UP THE ROAD TO HELP OUT HERE, EVERY ROAD TO HELP OUT HERE, EVERY YEAR FEELS LIKE A HOMECOMING OF YEAR FEELS LIKE A HOMECOMING OF SORTS.

SORTS.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO SEE >> IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO SEE PEOPLE ONCE A YEAR COME IN.

PEOPLE ONCE A YEAR COME IN.

THEY'RE ALWAYS HAPPY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS HAPPY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS CHEERFUL.

THEY'RE ALWAYS CHEERFUL.

IT'S DEFINITELY A FAMILY IT'S DEFINITELY A FAMILY EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

WE ALSO DO THAT AT MY LOT.

WE ALSO DO THAT AT MY LOT.

AT LOT 2.

AT LOT 2.

AND LIKE THIS MORNING I RAN INTO AND LIKE THIS MORNING I RAN INTO A GUY WHO'S BEEN COMING FOR A GUY WHO'S BEEN COMING FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.

ABOUT 25 YEARS.

AND I RECOGNIZED HIM AND I RECOGNIZED HIM IMMEDIATELY.

IMMEDIATELY.

HE RECOGNIZED ME.

HE RECOGNIZED ME.

HEY, WE'RE BACK, YOU KNOW.

HEY, WE'RE BACK, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY SO IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A NICE FAMILY PACKAGE A NICE FAMILY PACKAGE EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

>> IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A BETTER >> IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A BETTER IDEA TO PICK THE TREE FROM A IDEA TO PICK THE TREE FROM A DISTANCE FIRST BEFORE HEADING DISTANCE FIRST BEFORE HEADING INTO THE FIELD BECAUSE IT'S EASY INTO THE FIELD BECAUSE IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE TO LOSE SIGHT WHAT FOR PEOPLE TO LOSE SIGHT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHEN THEY'RE THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHEN THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH ENDLESS ROWS OF WALKING THROUGH ENDLESS ROWS OF FRASER FIRS, WHITE PINE AND FRASER FIRS, WHITE PINE AND OTHER FIRS.

OTHER FIRS.

MAYBE PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING FOR MAYBE PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT TREE.

THE PERFECT TREE.

JUST THE PERFECT TREE FOR THEM.

JUST THE PERFECT TREE FOR THEM.

THERE AREN'T TOO MANY AMONG US THERE AREN'T TOO MANY AMONG US WHO AT ONE TONIGHT IN -- POINT WHO AT ONE TONIGHT IN -- POINT IN TIME DIDN'T GET STUCK WITH IN TIME DIDN'T GET STUCK WITH THE CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS THE CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE.

TREE.

AND IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WHERE AND IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WHERE FOLKS GET TO PICK THEIR OWN, FOLKS GET TO PICK THEIR OWN, THEY'RE KIND OF HARD TO COME BY.

THEY'RE KIND OF HARD TO COME BY.

BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE WHO PREFER STILL SOME PEOPLE WHO PREFER THAT UNUSUALLY-SHAPED TREE.

THAT UNUSUALLY-SHAPED TREE.

>> I LIKE THE CHARLIE SHAPE >> I LIKE THE CHARLIE SHAPE DEER.

DEER.

-- TREES.

-- TREES.

THE DEER RUB OFF HALF OF IT.

THE DEER RUB OFF HALF OF IT.

THAT'S MY TREE.

THAT'S MY TREE.

THAT'S MY PERFECT TREE.

THAT'S MY PERFECT TREE.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

YOU MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.

YOU MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.

SO I TELL THEM IF ONE SPEAKS TO SO I TELL THEM IF ONE SPEAKS TO YOU, YOU GET IT.

YOU, YOU GET IT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

JUST FIND THE ONE YOU LIKE, SET JUST FIND THE ONE YOU LIKE, SET IT UP.

IT UP.

THE SECOND YOU DECORATION IT.

THE SECOND YOU DECORATION IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL IN IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR EYES ANYWAY.

YOUR EYES ANYWAY.

>> IT SEEMS TO BE A FUN-FAMILY >> IT SEEMS TO BE A FUN-FAMILY EXPERIENCE, BUT MAYBE FOR THE EXPERIENCE, BUT MAYBE FOR THE FAMILY THAT MADE IT ALL FAMILY THAT MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.

POSSIBLE.

PETER SWEET LIKES TO THINK HE'S PETER SWEET LIKES TO THINK HE'S PUT THIS OPERATION TOGETHER, ONE PUT THIS OPERATION TOGETHER, ONE PIECE AT A TIME LIKE JOHNNY CASH PIECE AT A TIME LIKE JOHNNY CASH SONG.

SONG.

NOW WITH ALL OF HIS FAMILY STILL NOW WITH ALL OF HIS FAMILY STILL SO CLOSE BY, HE GETSS TO SEE THE SO CLOSE BY, HE GETSS TO SEE THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR BEING WORKED FRUITS OF HIS LABOR BEING WORKED BY A THIRD GENERATION.

BY A THIRD GENERATION.

>> NO, NO, I ENJOY EVERY BIT OF >> NO, NO, I ENJOY EVERY BIT OF IT.

IT.

TO HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THERE -- TO HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THERE -- THEIR CHILDREN ARE ALL OVER THE THEIR CHILDREN ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY.

AND HERE WE ARE LIVING HERE.

AND HERE WE ARE LIVING HERE.

MY WIFE AND I.

MY WIFE AND I.

AND ONE SON IS ON SOME OF THE AND ONE SON IS ON SOME OF THE PROPERTY.

PROPERTY.

THE OTHER ONES UP THE ROAD ONE THE OTHER ONES UP THE ROAD ONE MILE AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.

MILE AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.

ALL OUR FAMILY IS TIGHT-KNIT ALL OUR FAMILY IS TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY AND THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER.

FAMILY AND THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER.

>>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE AT SEEKONK TREE FARM OWNER PETER AT SEEKONK TREE FARM OWNER PETER SWEET SENIOR TALKS ABOUT HIS SWEET SENIOR TALKS ABOUT HIS TIME AS THE LOCAL SHOP TEACHER TIME AS THE LOCAL SHOP TEACHER AND WHAT IT'S LIKE SEEING SO AND WHAT IT'S LIKE SEEING SO MANY OF HIS FORMER STUDENTS IN A MANY OF HIS FORMER STUDENTS IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> OVER THE YEARS I'VE PROBABLY >> OVER THE YEARS I'VE PROBABLY SEEN THINK 500 STUDENTS AND SOME SEEN THINK 500 STUDENTS AND SOME OF MY STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR 50S OF MY STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR 50S AND 60S NOW.

AND 60S NOW.

SO I'M DEALING WITH A COUPLE SO I'M DEALING WITH A COUPLE GENERATIONS OF THOSE FROM THAT.

GENERATIONS OF THOSE FROM THAT.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS >> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THERE IS A WELL-KEPT SEE YET >>> THERE IS A WELL-KEPT SEE YET IN WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IN WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IT'S A TROUPE CALLED SMALL IT'S A TROUPE CALLED SMALL PLANET DANCERS WHO PERFORM PLANET DANCERS WHO PERFORM DIFFERENT HISTORICAL AND CULTURE DIFFERENT HISTORICAL AND CULTURE DANCES.

DANCES.

-- CULTURAL DANCES.

-- CULTURAL DANCES.

AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER, THE THE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER, THE COMPANY PRESENTED "WASSAIL, A COMPANY PRESENTED "WASSAIL, A VICTORIAN HOLIDAY."

VICTORIAN HOLIDAY."

THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, HANUKKAH, CHRISTMAS, AND THE NEW HANUKKAH, CHRISTMAS, AND THE NEW YEAR WERE CELEBRATED IN YEAR WERE CELEBRATED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN WESTERN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" I -- IOHANN "CONNECTING POINT'S" I -- IOHANN RASHI VEGA LEARNED MORE ABOUT RASHI VEGA LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE WAY THAT THE COMPANY AND THE WAY THAT HISTORY AND ENTERTAINMENT CAN BE HISTORY AND ENTERTAINMENT CAN BE SHARED THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC, AND SHARED THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC, AND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

>> I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED HISTORY.

>> I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED HISTORY.

AND DANCE IS A FASHION OF MINE.

AND DANCE IS A FASHION OF MINE.

AND WHEN WE STARTED TO PUT AND WHEN WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER PROGRAMS MANY YEARS TOGETHER PROGRAMS MANY YEARS AGO, I DECIDED THAT I WANTED AGO, I DECIDED THAT I WANTED THEM TO BE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THEM TO BE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

SO THAT THEY WOULD BE NOT ONLY SO THAT THEY WOULD BE NOT ONLY ENTERTAINMENT BUT ALSO SERVE A ENTERTAINMENT BUT ALSO SERVE A PURPOSE.

PURPOSE.

SO I STARTED OFF DEVELOPING SO I STARTED OFF DEVELOPING PROGRAMS IN CERTAIN GENRES, SO PROGRAMS IN CERTAIN GENRES, SO THAT WE MIGHT GO OUT AND TEACH THAT WE MIGHT GO OUT AND TEACH ABOUT CELTSIC HISTORY OR MIDDLE ABOUT CELTSIC HISTORY OR MIDDLE EASTERN DANCING.

EASTERN DANCING.

WE GOT INTO HISTORICAL CARDS.

WE GOT INTO HISTORICAL CARDS.

SO -- PERIODS.

SO -- PERIODS.

SO WORLD WAR II AND WORLD WAR I.

SO WORLD WAR II AND WORLD WAR I. I SAID THINGS INCORPORATE THINGS I SAID THINGS INCORPORATE THINGS THAT ARE PERIOD PIECES, AND THAT ARE PERIOD PIECES, AND THAT'S HOW THE CONCEPT OF THAT'S HOW THE CONCEPT OF WASSAIL CAME UP.

WASSAIL CAME UP.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND THIS PARTICULAR PIECE, >> AND THIS PARTICULAR PIECE, WASSAIL, IS ALSO INTENDED TO BE WASSAIL, IS ALSO INTENDED TO BE PARTICIPATORY FOR THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATORY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO JOIN AND BECOME PART OF THE TO JOIN AND BECOME PART OF THE EXPERIENCE, RIGHT.

EXPERIENCE, RIGHT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE TRY TO DO THAT AT ALL OF OUR WE TRY TO DO THAT AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS, SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN EVENTS, SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN PARTICIPATE EITHER IN SOME FORM PARTICIPATE EITHER IN SOME FORM OF A BACK-AND-FORTH OF A BACK-AND-FORTH COMMUNICATION OF GREETING OR IN COMMUNICATION OF GREETING OR IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THERE'S THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE GRAND MARCH SOMETHING CALLED THE GRAND MARCH THAT USED TO START OFF EVERY THAT USED TO START OFF EVERY SPECIAL DANCE EVENT DURING THE SPECIAL DANCE EVENT DURING THE VICTORIAN PERIOD.

VICTORIAN PERIOD.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IT'S A VERY, VERY SIMPLE >> IT'S A VERY, VERY SIMPLE PROGRESSION OF GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION OF GEOMETRIC ROUTINES AND WHAT WE DO IS WE DO ROUTINES AND WHAT WE DO IS WE DO IT IN THE OPENING.

IT IN THE OPENING.

WE CALL IT THE NUTCRACKER MARCH.

WE CALL IT THE NUTCRACKER MARCH.

AND WE USE SOME MUSIC FROM -- AND WE USE SOME MUSIC FROM -- FROM "THE NUTCRACKER" TO START FROM "THE NUTCRACKER" TO START OFF A NICE MARCH.

OFF A NICE MARCH.

AND THEN AT THE END OF THE AND THEN AT THE END OF THE EVENT, WE INVITE THE AUDIENCE UP EVENT, WE INVITE THE AUDIENCE UP TO PARTICIPATE.

TO PARTICIPATE.

AND THEY JOIN US IN THAT AND THEY JOIN US IN THAT PERFORMANCE.

PERFORMANCE.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT THEY ARE SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT THEY ARE MEMBERS OF OUR EXPERIENCE.

MEMBERS OF OUR EXPERIENCE.

WE ALSO HAVE SING-ALONGS.

WE ALSO HAVE SING-ALONGS.

SO WE'VE TAKEN PERIODS -- PIECES SO WE'VE TAKEN PERIODS -- PIECES OF MUSIC FROM THE VICTORIAN TIME OF MUSIC FROM THE VICTORIAN TIME THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR, SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POPULAR, SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.

PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.

AND THEY'RE POPULAR SONGS THAT AND THEY'RE POPULAR SONGS THAT THEY WOULD KNOW, THING LIKE THEY WOULD KNOW, THING LIKE JINGLE BELLS WHICH POPULAR IN JINGLE BELLS WHICH POPULAR IN VICTORIAN TIME AND WASSAIL.

VICTORIAN TIME AND WASSAIL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> WE'LL HAVE THE WORD SHEET >> WE'LL HAVE THE WORD SHEET PRINTED OUT FOR THEM AND THEY PRINTED OUT FOR THEM AND THEY CAN JOIN IN ANYTIME.

CAN JOIN IN ANYTIME.

WE ALSO DO A LITTLE BIT OF A WE ALSO DO A LITTLE BIT OF A PARLOR GAME.

PARLOR GAME.

WE HAVE A POEM THAT WE READ BACK WE HAVE A POEM THAT WE READ BACK AND FORTH AT THE END TO WELCOME AND FORTH AT THE END TO WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR.

IN THE NEW YEAR.

SO WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT SO WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT AUDIENCES LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.

AUDIENCES LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY LIKE TO COME.

THEY LIKE TO COME.

THEY LIKE TO INTERACT WITH THE THEY LIKE TO INTERACT WITH THE PERFORMERS.

PERFORMERS.

AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.

IT.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THESE PIECES AND DESCRIPTION OF THESE PIECES AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS TALKING THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS TALKING ABOUT CULTURE, HISTORY, ABOUT CULTURE, HISTORY, REPRESENTATION, DANCE, MUSIC -- REPRESENTATION, DANCE, MUSIC -- BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ELEMENT BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT AND IT'S ALL THE ABOUT AND IT'S ALL THE DRESSINGS.

DRESSINGS.

THE WORK ON FINDING THE RIGHT THE WORK ON FINDING THE RIGHT ATTIRES FOR THE TIMES AND ATTIRES FOR THE TIMES AND PERIODS AND PLACES THAT YOU ARE PERIODS AND PLACES THAT YOU ARE BRINGING TO THE DIFFERENT BRINGING TO THE DIFFERENT DANCES.

DANCES.

HOW THE ELEMENT OF THE DRESSING HOW THE ELEMENT OF THE DRESSING COMES TO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE COMES TO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

DOING.

>> WE TRY TO BE VERY ACCURATE IN >> WE TRY TO BE VERY ACCURATE IN WHAT WE PORTRAY.

WHAT WE PORTRAY.

SO YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE DOING SO YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE WORLD WAR II, WE SOMETHING LIKE WORLD WAR II, WE ACTUALLY BUY COSTUMES THAT ACTUALLY BUY COSTUMES THAT REPRESENT WORLD WAR II, FOR REPRESENT WORLD WAR II, FOR EXAMPLE.

EXAMPLE.

WE'LL GO OUT AND WE WILL GO ON WE'LL GO OUT AND WE WILL GO ON eBAY AND WE'LL GO TO DIFFERENT eBAY AND WE'LL GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES TO GET UNIFORMS.

PLACES TO GET UNIFORMS.

AND REALLY TRY AND DO THAT.

AND REALLY TRY AND DO THAT.

FOR THE VICTORIAN PIECES, WE FOR THE VICTORIAN PIECES, WE BOUGHT REPRODUCTION TYPES OF BOUGHT REPRODUCTION TYPES OF PATTERNS.

PATTERNS.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE DO IS WE THE ONLY THING THAT WE DO IS WE MODIFY THEM.

MODIFY THEM.

WE HAVE ZIPPERS.

WE HAVE ZIPPERS.

SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO GET IN AND OUT OF.

GET IN AND OUT OF.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE'RE VERY BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE'RE VERY ACCURATE.

ACCURATE.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE CIVIL WAR FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR PERIOD, WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR COSTUMING DOESN'T HAVE FINE COSTUMING DOESN'T HAVE FINE BROCADES OR FANCY SILKS, BECAUSE BROCADES OR FANCY SILKS, BECAUSE DURING THE CIVIL WAR WE DIDN'T DURING THE CIVIL WAR WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE FABRICS IN THE HAVE THOSE FABRICS IN THE UNITED STATES.

UNITED STATES.

THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE WERE REALLY WHERE PEOPLE WERE REALLY SUFFERING.

SUFFERING.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE USED SO THEY WOULD HAVE USED CALLICCOS.

CALLICCOS.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CIVIL SO WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CIVIL WAR PERIOD COSTUMES ARE VERY WAR PERIOD COSTUMES ARE VERY MUCH OF THAT ELEMENT SO THAT MUCH OF THAT ELEMENT SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HOOP SKIRTS AND THEY WOULD HAVE HOOP SKIRTS AND THEY WOULD HAVE WORN -- BUT THEY THEY WOULD HAVE WORN -- BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE FINE, FANCY FABRICS.

WOULDN'T BE FINE, FANCY FABRICS.

THEY'D BE SIMPLE COTTONS.

THEY'D BE SIMPLE COTTONS.

>> SO SMALL PLANET DANCERS IS >> SO SMALL PLANET DANCERS IS BASED IN WESTFIELD.

BASED IN WESTFIELD.

AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

WHILE.

AND YET IT'S POSSIBLY FOR MANY AND YET IT'S POSSIBLY FOR MANY STILL SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T STILL SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THERE.

KNOW IS THERE.

SO WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF SMALL SO WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF SMALL PLANET DANCERS AND HOW CAN PLANET DANCERS AND HOW CAN PEOPLE GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PEOPLE GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS WORK AND MAYBE GETTING THIS WORK AND MAYBE GETTING INVOLVED?

INVOLVED?

>> THE NICE THING ABOUT SMALL >> THE NICE THING ABOUT SMALL PLANET DANCERS IS ALL THE PEOPLE PLANET DANCERS IS ALL THE PEOPLE THAT PERFORM WITH US ARE ONES THAT PERFORM WITH US ARE ONES THAT ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL THAT ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL DANERS.

DANERS.

WE ARE -- DANCERS.

WE ARE -- DANCERS.

WE'RE A VOLUNTEER GROUP, WE'RE A VOLUNTEER GROUP, COMMUNITY BASED.

COMMUNITY BASED.

WE'RE BASED IN WESTFIELD, BUT AS WE'RE BASED IN WESTFIELD, BUT AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING IN, WE'VE FAR AS PEOPLE COMING IN, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF HAD PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE TROUPE THAT COME IN FROM THE TROUPE THAT COME IN FROM MUNSON, FROM NORTHERN MUNSON, FROM NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS, AS I SAID, ABOMB, MASSACHUSETTS, AS I SAID, ABOMB, MESS FIELD -- MASSFIELD, IT'S A MESS FIELD -- MASSFIELD, IT'S A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION.

UNIQUE ORGANIZATION.

I TEACH EVERYBODY THE ROUTINES.

I TEACH EVERYBODY THE ROUTINES.

SO YOU CAN COME TOTALLY WITH NO SO YOU CAN COME TOTALLY WITH NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

AND NO DANCER LEFT BEHIND IS MY AND NO DANCER LEFT BEHIND IS MY MOTTO.

MOTTO.

SO WE WILL BRING YOU ALONG WITH SO WE WILL BRING YOU ALONG WITH US AND INCORPORATE YOU INTO THE US AND INCORPORATE YOU INTO THE DANCES IS.

DANCES IS.

AND WE FEEL IT GIVES -- DANCES.

AND WE FEEL IT GIVES -- DANCES.

AND WE FEEL IT GIVES A LOT OF AND WE FEEL IT GIVES A LOT OF PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT MIGHT CONSIDER THEMSELVES TOO MIGHT CONSIDER THEMSELVES TOO OLD TO PERHAPS JOIN IN IN OLD TO PERHAPS JOIN IN IN DANCING.

DANCING.

WHAT THEY DISCOVER IS DANCING IS WHAT THEY DISCOVER IS DANCING IS AGELESS AND IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY AGELESS AND IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO STAY INTEGRATED WITH OTHER TO STAY INTEGRATED WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO OLD STURBRIDGE OUR THANKS TO OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

VILLAGE FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE MORE AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ [SINGING] ♪