By Karissa Zastrow

On December 10th, a snowy Saturday in Eau Claire, the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild hosted a holiday themed open read in the hopes of spreading holiday cheer. Those who braved the cold weather were greeted with a smile, hot chocolate, and an assortment of cookies. To make the gallery more festive, a video of a lit up Christmas tree, silently standing in the snow, played behind the podium. Starting off the event was Max Garland, who recited Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”—a poem, and sight, many of us are familiar with—before sharing an original poem. Fellow readers shared their own work, and their pieces ranged from past holiday articles and stories of holiday traditions to a raccoon in a freezer and the importance of Christmas trees in making memories. Allyson Loomis wrapped up the event by telling a story based on her own experiences of Christmas with her family in Los Angeles, and she ended her reading by inviting everyone to sing “White Christmas” together. Leaving the event, everyone felt closer, more inspired, and ready for the holidays!

Happy holidays from the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, and happy New Year!