TURNER – The historic Leavitt Institute Building is taking on a festive air in anticipation of the holiday open house from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

A full afternoon of activities in the community room, the museum and historical rooms, the Turner Public Library and the Center for the Arts, will wind up with a baked bean supper from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Universalist Church in the town center.

The community room will hold a yard sale of new and almost new holiday items and decorations and games and prizes for the children.

Turner’s Museum and Historical Association will benefit from the raffle of a homemade quilt in memory of Sylvia French Arno, the president for eight years of the County Aire Quilters.

The association will also have for sale a 2008 “History of Turner” calendar with photographs of bygone days from the various sections of Turner.

The library is conducting its first-ever silent auction of a number of handcrafted items, including afghans, patchwork pillows, paintings, tote bags and mincemeat for the Christmas pie. They are on display at the library and may be viewed and bid on during library hours Tuesday and Thursday noon to 7 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to noon and during the open house.

Mrs. Claus will lead story time at 1:30 p.m. followed by “Crafts for Kids.” Throughout the afternoon, bags of cookies will be on sale, as will the cookbook, “Turner Family Favorites.” The pre-orders of the book may be picked up from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

Turner’s Center for the Arts on the first floor of the Leavitt Institute Building, Route 117, will feature “In Good Company,” the annual membership exhibit, in galleries one and two, including paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture.

A photographic exhibit of “China Scenes” by Sharon Scrivens Packer will be in gallery three. An artist-in-residence will be at work in the community room with some paintings for sale.

The day will culminate with a baked bean supper at 5 p.m. at the Universalist Church.