Christmas in Middleburg’s 2024 Ornament Celebrates the Joy of Tradition

Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Kaitlin Hill 

This winter, Christmas in Middleburg will wrap the town with holiday warmth and fellowship. Open to all, what began in 1972 as a grassroots effort to boost local businesses has become a deeply embedded tradition in the community. Men and women who lined the streets as children now bring their grandchildren. They pop in and out of the shops in quest of the perfect holiday gifts, grab lunch at one of the many eateries, then enjoy the parade. 

The official 2024 Christmas in Middleburg ornament not only makes a great gift, but also underlines the richness and joy of Middleburg’s most iconic holiday event. This is the second in a series of limited-edition ornaments. Like last year’s ornament, it honors local artist and Hill School art teacher Emily Talbot Sharp (1918-2011). Proceeds from the ornament’s sales are used to support a local charity. Last year, the funds were donated to the Middleburg Humane Foundation.

“Em was really embedded in the history of the town,” Michelle Myers says. She’s the president of the nonprofit Christmas in Middleburg board of directors and co-organizer with her husband, Doug Myers. 

Christmas in Middleburg board member Carmen Arwine elaborates, “It’s a way to support Middleburg’s long-standing sense of community. It’s a nice way to honor Em, and to make sure her story continues. The ornament gives a touchpoint to ‘Old Middleburg.’” Arwine, who grew up in Middleburg and whose husband was one of Em Sharp’s students, says, “I didn’t want her to be forgotten.”

Born in Washington, D.C., Sharp was educated at the Potomac School and the Corcoran School of Art. She raised her family in Middleburg and taught art at the Hill School from 1961 to 1971 and from 1978 to 1983. Praised for instilling confidence and curiosity in her students, Sharp was woven into the fabric of Middleburg. Like many characters imbuing a community with their own personality, she had an unofficial uniform: blue jeans, an Irish sweater, a bandana in her back pocket, and a smile. Even her ride was unique — a Volkswagen Beetle with Beatrix Potter characters painted on the doors. 

Sharp created the original 26 Christmas signs hung throughout Middleburg for the holiday season. These celebrate local and classic Christmas scenes and have a Dickensian feel about them. Each was made with a person in mind and are hung at the same site every year. For instance, the gingerbread sign celebrates a nearby bakery, The Upper Crust. The 2023 Christmas in Middleburg ornament was inspired by the sign which hangs each year at the intersection of Washington and Madison streets. It features a jolly Santa Clause holding a list of Hill School students.

This year’s ornament takes its cue from the holiday sign traditionally hung by the Middleburg bank. Rumored to be Em Sharp’s favorite, the sign features a man with a goose, illustrating the old carol which begins, “Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat…” Arwine points out the carol’s blessing for those in need: “If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you.” The proceeds from sales of this year’s ornament will support an enrichment program at Banneker Elementary School in nearby St. Louis, Virginia.

The Christmas in Middleburg organization has shared the schedule for this December’s activities. A tree lighting ceremony and carols behind The Pink Box will kick things off at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 6. Saturday begins with Breakfast with Santa at the Middleburg Charter School, followed by the iconic Hunt and Hounds Review. 

Few events rival the clattering of the Middleburg Hunt’s horses as they make their way down Washington Street. Riders in their scarlet pinks smile and wave as their hounds lope along beside them. Each year, anyone with a camera or phone handy snaps away, hoping to capture this picturesque Hunt Country scene. 

In the afternoon, the Christmas Parade of floats, animals, clubs, and local businesses fill the streets. Following the parade, the Spirits of Middleburg encourages folks to sample food and drinks from one end of town to the other. Finally, on Sunday, the New Girls at Foxcroft School offer their gift to the community with the annual Christmas pageant.

For those who attend the parade, and even those who can’t make it, the Christmas ornament offers the chance to bring a bit of the Middleburg Christmas magic home and remember one of the town’s most beloved personalities. ML

For more information or to explore volunteer opportunities with Christmas in Middleburg, visit christmasinmiddleburg.org or contact [email protected]. And to purchase your 2024 ornament, visit christmasinmiddleburg.org/christmas-ornament.

Published in the December 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.