Published in the November 22, 2016 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

 

LYNNFIELD — The holiday season is in full swing and the town will be ringing in the holidays next weekend.

The annual Country Store, Tree Lighting ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3. Organizers from all three events are hoping for great weather and a high turnout once again.

Country Store

The holiday season kick off celebration will begin at 9 a.m., when the Lynnfield Historical Society will be transforming the Meeting House into the 54th annual Country Store.

The Country Store will once again be selling wreaths, swags, Vermont Cabot Cheese, ham and bean dinners, homemade baked goods and popcorn. Attendees will be able to purchase some delicious food from Mrs. Claus’ Snacks and Lunch Kitchen. The Village Home and Garden Club will be selling decorated trees once again. Residents will be able to purchase singing marshes jelly and jam. The Centre Club’s lottery contest will also be held at the Country Store.

Santa Claus will be making his first stop in town when he arrives at the Country Store via Lynnfield fire truck at 10:45 a.m. Parents will be able to take photos of their children with Old Saint Nick.

“Tell all of your friends to bring their kids and join in the fun,” said Country Store spokeswoman Karen Nascembeni in a news release.

In addition to offering activities for adults, the Country Store will also be providing activities for children, including a tree ornament making station. Colby Properties is sponsoring Santa’s North Pole Fishing Hole once again.

Kids and adults will be able to do their holiday shopping at Santa’s Five and Dime, where attendees can pick out gifts for their friends and family and have them wrapped on site.

The Country Store will stay open through the Tree Lighting ceremony.

Tree Lighting ceremony

The Tree Lighting ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. when refreshments will be served.

Santa Claus will be making his second visit to town during the Tree Lighting ceremony and will be encouraging youngsters to stay on the “nice list” by passing out candy canes.

“Children can come and have their pictures taken with Santa for free,” said Recreation Director Julie Mallett.

The Girl Scouts of Lynnfield and the Lynnfield High School Tri-M Music Honor Society will kick off the community singing segment of the event, featuring memorable holiday tunes, at 4:15 p.m. A member of the Board of Selectmen will be welcoming attendees to the ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

The festivities will conclude with the annual lighting of the trees.

Mallett encouraged residents to attend the Tree Lighting ceremony.

“This is my favorite time of the year,” said Mallett. “I am looking forward to another successful community event.”

Gingerbread House Contest

The 12th annual Gingerbread House Contest will be taking place at Centre Congregational Church from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gingerbread House Contest participants are required to follow these rules.

• Participants are encouraged to use their imagination when creating gingerbread houses.

• In authentic categories, entries must be made from gingerbread using only food materials.

• Kits are allowed but imagination is encouraged to make each gingerbread house look different.

• Accessories such as little plastic animals and trees are allowed but participants are encouraged to keep them to a minimum.

• Individual entries must be on a base no bigger than 12”x12.”

• Group/family entries must be on a base no bigger than 24”x18.” Any larger sizes must be on two separate boards and participants will be required to pay for two entries.

• Gingerbread houses must be dropped off between 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at Centre Congregational Church.

• All entries must be picked up by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Any gingerbread house not picked up will be thrown away and the clean up deposit of $25 will be charged to the participant’s account. All gingerbread houses need to be picked up through the rear entrance of the church on the parking lot side.

Lynnfield Recreation will present awards to the winners in the following categories: Most Original theme; Best Authentic Construction; Most Creative Use of Materials; Favorite Story Book; Best Replica of Notable Building; Best in Show; Best Holiday Spirit; Group Best; Family Best; Best Sports Theme; Best Adult (age 18-99); Best Teen (age 14-17); Best Youth (age 10-13); and Best Child (9 and under). The winner of the Viewers’ Choice Award will be voted on by all of the contests’ participants.

The entry fee for a 12”x12” gingerbread house is $10. The entry fee for a 24”x18” gingerbread house is $20. The entry fee for a combination of sizes is $25.

In order to register for the Gingerbread House Contest, residents should visit https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/Pages/LynnfieldMA_BComm/recreation/index and click on register for activities.

If residents have any questions, contact Mallett at 781-334-9488 or recreation@town.lynnfield.ma.us.