We were pleased to welcome over 100 collectors, both first- and long-timers, to our twenty-second Collector’s Weekend. With participants flying from as far west as Washington State and as far south as Texas, collectors came together with one thing in mind: traditions. Starting with the Friday Evening Opening, where we welcome Sam James from NBC’s The Voice, and extending through our lectures and annual dinner, it was a weekend full of merriment, painting, and collecting. With registration for this year officially starting on January 1st, the Friday painting workshop was quick to sell out and the Saturday and Sunday painting workshops were near record highs. The annual dinner, which was hosted at The Citizen in Worcester was a highlight and acted as “the” event for the weekend as many collectors were able to meet new friends and see some familiar faces from years past.
Thank you to our staff for putting in long hours to ensure that our collectors from around the country could enjoy an experience unlike any other. Thank you, to our collectors for joining us and helping make this weekend such a joy.
Tickets for 2018 will go on sale on January 1st. Be sure to “Join Waitlist” to be alerted the moment that tickets are available.
Friday
Collectors from around the nation join us for the Friday Painting Workshop at Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton, MA.
Posted by Vaillancourt Folk Art on Friday, April 28, 2017
Saturday
Collectors from around the nation join us for the Friday Painting Workshop at Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton, MA.
Posted by Vaillancourt Folk Art on Saturday, April 29, 2017
Sunday
Collectors from around the nation join us for the Friday Painting Workshop at Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton, MA.
Posted by Vaillancourt Folk Art on Sunday, April 30, 2017
For 2017, we already have a lot in store for you. Here is what you can expect!
Friday, April 28, 2017
- 9:30am – 4:00pm
Painting Workshop 1
Orientation begins promptly at 9:00am. Workshop includes lunch. - 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Friday Evening at Vaillancourt’s ($10 for non-painting workshop participants)
Join us in Blaxton Hall as we kick off the weekend with live entertainment and mingling with collectors from around the country and enjoy live music before special pieces and premier numbers are introduced.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
- 9:30am – 4:00pm
Painting Workshop 2
Orientation begins promptly at 9:00am. Workshop includes lunch. - 10:00am – 11:00am
Jim Welu (Director emeritus of the Worcester Art Museum): Twelfth Night As Depicted in Dutch Art - 11:00am – 12:00pm
Fr. Joseph Viveiros: The Nativity Creche - 1:30pm – 2:00pm
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2018 - 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Chris McGovern: Decorating the Home For Christmas - 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Gary and Judi Vaillancourt: Building A Colonial Home—Today - 7:30pm
Annual Reception and Dinner! — Reception starts at 6:30
What some call the highlight of the weekend, the annual dinner has become a popular event for collectors both serious or casual and young or old. Dine with those who share a passion for Christmas and Vaillancourt Chalkware and have the opportunity to be chosen to design your own Santa for the following year’s Collector’s Weekend! The reception will return to Still & Stir’s speakeasy with dinner immediately following at the courtyard of the Citizen Wine Bar in Worcester.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
- 9:00am – 10:00am
Collector’s Breakfast Buffet for participants of Painting Workshop - 9:30am – 4:00pm
Painting Workshop 3
Orientation begins promptly at 9:00am. Workshop includes lunch.
Where to stay!
- Hilton Gardens Inn Worcester A special block of rooms is reserved under Vaillancourt Folk Art – Directions (20 miles, 16 minutes from VFA)
- Econo Lodge Sutton is close to Vaillancourt Folk Art – Directions (9 miles, 7 minutes from VFA)