Joy to the Ville 2026

Embrace the holiday and winter spirit at the ninth annual Joy to the Ville community celebration! Join Waterville Creates, the Colby College Museum of Art, the Waterville Public Library, and the Children’s Discovery Museum as we celebrate the magic of the season with movies, art-making, play, and more! Free food and holiday treats to enjoy while supplies last.

Festivities include:

At Greene Block + Studios, 18 Main Street:
9:30am Waterville Moves: Caregiver + Child
This shorter 45-minute program is for parents with children 6 and under. This class is designed specifically for parents to move alongside and with their child.

10:30am Waterville Moves: Intergenerational
This hourlong intergenerational dance class is for people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. No formal dance experience is necessary. The class moves from solo movement practices to working with others to whole group creative processes. This class is designed for all ages and abilities. Classes are free and open to all: no experience with dance needed. (ages 5–105 welcome!)

11:30am Multi Lingual Hour (celebrating holiday traditions)
Join Lets Talk Language School to practice a language with a native speaker! Volunteer facilitators speaking French, Spanish, and Russian. All ages and levels welcome. For more info, click here.

At the Paul J. Schupf Art Center:
9:45am Miracle on 34th Street at the Maine Film Center. Reserve free tickets here!

11–2pm Recycled Book Buttons with the Waterville Public Library
Make a custom pin-back button! You can make mini collages, pick a single image, or draw your own! This event is free and open to all ages.

12–3pm Snowflake Making Colby College Museum of Art + Waterville Creates
Create your own snowflakes for your windows at home or help decorate the arts center!

12-2pm Chanukah Fun! Spin a dreidel and enjoy some gelt with Colby College Hillel students.

12–4pm Kringleville with the Children’s Discovery Museum
Visit with Santa in Castonguay Square! For more info on Kringleville, click here! 

1pm Holiday Music from the Waterville High School Choir and Jazz Band

1pm Cookie Decorating with Holy Cannoli- first come first served, we will bring groups of 10 over to Holy Cannoli to create!
Thanks to Holy Cannoli for donating the cookies, staffing time, and space!

At Waterville Public Library, 73 Elm Street:
10am–2:30pm Cursed Ornament Creation
Get creative and make your own cursed ornament out of eclectic craft supplies. A “Bad Art Club” event. This program is intended for teens and adults, but will have something for everyone!

10am–3pm Joy Jar Guessing Game
Visit the Children’s Room and guess how many festive treats are in the Joy Jar. The person who comes closest wins!

12am–2:00pm Teen Tabletop: A Movie Special
Teens and tweens ages 11 to 18 are invited to watch a popular animated dragon-training film at this special Teen Tabletop. Snacks will be provided.

Visiting any Joy to the Ville event the Library is running earns you an entry slip for a $100 Bull Moose gift certificate! To enter the drawing, drop off completed entry slips at the Library before 2:30pm on Saturday, December 5. The winners for both the gift certificate and the guessing contest will be announced on Tuesday, December 8.

Thank you to our sponsors the Harold Alfond Foundation, Kennebec Savings Bank, Central Maine Newspapers, the City of Waterville, and Back Office Solutions.