Submitted article —
Due to recent restrictions related to the pandemic, The Museum of Chincoteague has made changes to its planned Christmas Tree Village and A Gathering of Island Gnomes.
While the museum will not be able to display the beautifully decorated trees in the Legacy Pavilion and invite the public to gather inside, organizers have changed the name and reorganized the event.
This year, it will be called “The Year We All Stayed Gnome.”
You see, gnomes are immune to COVID-19 and protested that canceling their gathering infringed on their rights. We all need a little whimsy in our life right now and this is it.
A Gathering of Island Gnomes will still take place outside in the museum courtyard (some featuring island characters, past and present).
The Island Gnomes will be on display from Dec 1 – 31. Visit them anytime for your holiday entertainment pleasure.
This allows for plenty of social distancing, keeping us all safe while enjoying A Gathering of Island Gnomes.
Currently present in the display are Miss Diane’s Nursery School for Kindhearted Gnomes, Ole Man Tom Reed, Captain Barry Frishman, Team Brianna – Kindness Matters, Esmarelda, a Hippie Biker Chick, Be Kind, Mr. Pots, Gnome Garden Party, Chincoteague Police, CI Community Cats, Spunky, and Honey Bee. More gnomes are expected to arrive daily, including from the U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard.
The museum hopes to make this gathering of homemade gnomes a new tradition.
Some of the gnomes tell a story of Chincoteague history and characters, past and present. As an example, Mr. Tom Reed was known for catching snapping turtles, being a market game hunter and a poet. The gnome made in his memory displays those bits of history that really pertain personally to him. Anyone who knew him would be able to guess who the gnome represents.
Additionally, the museum will sponsor a virtual celebration of its 50th anniversary, called “Giving Thanks for 50 Years.”
The celebration will start Dec 10 and continue until Dec 17. The virtual celebration will feature island historian Cindy Faith narrating interesting displays in the museum for 2020.
All during the week there will be a silent auction. Some items featured in the auction will be artwork by Jenny Somers, John Hamberger, Cindy Faith, Cheryl Taylor, and Erick Sahler; a Chincoteague four-night getaway package; an antique rocking horse; a sea glass Christmas tree; an Island Creamery gift certificate for one quart of ice cream a month for 12 months; a cruise for two with Capt. Barry; and other fun and unique items.
The Museum of Chincoteague Island is delighted to announce a pretty little elf by the name of Melissa Pirkle will be baking some goodies to share with our gathering of Island Gnomes and for ALL OF YOU.
Melissa will be offering beautiful and very tasty Petit Fours (four to a box) for $10 and a three-flavor box of cookies (one Dozen) for $10 — the flavors are chocolate chip, peanut butter, and chocolate chip peanut butter cinnamon.
Orders must be received by December 12 for pick up at the museum or delivery on the island Dec. 18 and 19.
Preorders can be placed on the Museum of Chincoteague’s Facebook Page under the post about the online bake sale by emailing [email protected]; or by phone at 757-336-6117. These delicious baked goods are made with love and taste magical, they make a nice gift for yourself or a friend or neighbor.
First Annual Gathering of Island Gnomes collector’s trivets are available in limited quantities from the museum. They were created by local artist Cheryl Taylor.
The original artwork reproduced on the trivets will be offered for sale in the online auction.
P.S. In their protest, The Island Gnomes have kindly asked for all registration fees to be waived — “The more the merrier,” they say. Everyone is invited to create and add gnomes to the courtyard display all thru the month starting Dec 1. The gnomes will be outside, so they must be able to survive in all types of wind and weather with no shelter. Gnome life can be tough. They will also have no security, so we suggest nothing valuable be left in their care. They simply are not all trustworthy. Sad but true; we hope they all get along well.
