The cozy, verdant hamlet of Glen Williams turns 200 this year, and the community is putting its best foot forward to celebrate.
The Glen Williams Community Association (GWCA) is planning several events throughout 2025 for 'Glen200,' as the year-long merriment is called. They will showcase the beauty, culture and past of the Glen and create a touch point in its ongoing, storied history.
Here are a few of the celebrations lined up by the volunteers of the GWCA for the coming weeks:
The Glen200 Photo Contest
This is an ongoing online event that will run until August, allowing many people, both young and old, to capture the beauty of their home. Participants must be amateur photographers, residents of Glen Williams, and their photos must capture the Glen.
Several other rules apply as well, so be sure to read the particulars of the contest.
Little Feet, Big Discoveries
Fifty rings of St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church’s 121-year-old bell will commence Little Feet, Big Discoveries – a combination historical walking tour and scavenger hunt for kids on Jan. 26.
The tour and hunt will be run and guided by historian Mark Rowe. Hot refreshments will be provided at Kind Vibe Kids to help cap off the search.
The bell will toll starting at 1 p.m. at St. Alban's. Worth noting is that the GWCA will be selecting official bell ringers for Glen200 through a contest. Two local youths between the ages of five and 16 will be chosen for this event. To enter, send your name, address and age to [email protected] by end of day Jan. 20.
Winter in the Glen
Join others at the Glen Williams Town Hall for an afternoon of history on Feb. 9 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
There will be a slideshow presentation by historian Mark Rowe, who will be talking about, as the name of the event suggests, winter in the Glen.
There will also be an auction of a Main Street-themed blanket donated by the Sykes and Ainley Wool Shop, a local Glen institution.
The blanket features imagery of a horse-drawn carriage on Main Street with the building that's now the Copper Kettle Pub clearly visible in the background.
The year has just begun and details are still being hashed out for future events, which will include more walking tours, bell ringings, a reunion, community dance and Glen200 Day - a special day-long celebration on Sept. 27. Keep an eye on the Glen200 website and the GWCA Facebook page for updates.
