Published December 4, 2019

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

The town will usher in the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, when four incredibly popular events will be held over the course of two days.

The Historical Society will be hosting its 57th annual Country Store in the Meeting House on Saturday, Dec. 7. Country Store Co-Chairman Steven Richard noted he has been attending the event since he was an infant.

“One of my favorite childhood photos is of me sitting on Santa’s lap at the Country Store,” said Richard. “Now, every year, I’m the one taking pictures of the kids with Santa. It’s been so much fun seeing the same children come year after year for their photo, making it a part of their tradition just like it’s been a part of mine for five decades. This is such a sentimental event for me. My Mom, Edie Richard, ran the ham and bean supper table for years. My Dad, Earl Richard, ran the greens department alongside his dear friend, Dick LaCoste, and so many others. Now at 98, Dad comes and inspects our work, sits down and enjoys a cup of coffee and a hot dog while he reflects back on his many years of involvement with the Country Store.  It’s been a real family affair.  My sister and nieces help decorate the wreaths. My wife, Karen Nascembeni, and I co-chair the store alongside so many hardworking, dedicated volunteers like Linda and Bob Gillon, Annmarie Pendola, Karen Colby and her husband, John Nunziato, Chris Noonan and so many others. I think about Art and Lillian Foulds, and all the years they ran the Country Store. We are just stewards of this great Lynnfield tradition, as time permits us in our busy lives. It’s a tremendous amount of work. We just hope lots of folks come down to support the event. It truly is an old-fashioned holiday tradition steeped in the history of much simpler times.”

Lynnfield Recreation is hosting both its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest on Saturday as well. Lynnfield Recreation is also hosting its second annual Light Up Lynnfield contest on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7.

Recreation Director Julie Mallett said she is looking forward to the three Lynnfield Rec events this weekend.

“I am very excited for this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest,” said Mallett. “It is my favorite community event. We will also be hosting the second annual Light Up Lynnfield contest. Since it was a huge success last year, we have added a second night of trolley rides. I hope you can join us as we kick off the holiday season.”

Country Store

The Historical Society’s beloved Country Store will be returning for its 57th year on Saturday, taking place from 9 a.m. through the end of the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

A number of seasonal items will be sold at the Country Store, including wreaths and swags. The Village Home and Garden Club will be back selling decorated trees as well.

The Country Store will be selling a variety of delicious food as well. The food that will be sold includes ham and bean to-go dinners, homemade baked goods, jam, jelly, popcorn and Vermont Cabot Cheese. Mrs. Claus’ Snacks and Lunch Kitchen will be selling food as well.

The Centre Club’s lottery contest will also take place at the Country Store.

The Lynnfield Fire Department will be bringing Santa Claus to the Country Store at 10:45 a.m. Old Saint Nick will be posing for pictures with children once again.

In addition to selling items for adults, the Country Store will be offering activities for children as well. Colby Properties is once again sponsoring the very popular Santa’s North Pole Fishing Hole.

The event’s proceeds will be used to maintain the Meeting House. Proceeds from last year’s Country Store helped purchase the Meeting House’s new roof and new coat of paint.

Tree Lighting Ceremony

While electricity for the Town Common was disrupted due to the septic system project, Lynnfield Recreation will still be holding the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Common.

The popular event will begin at 3 p.m., when Santa Claus makes his second appearance in town and refreshments are served. Photographers from Priestley’s Fine Art Photography will be taking complementary pictures of children with Santa. Parents can bring their own cameras as well.

Lynnfield Girl Scouts and the Lynnfield High School Tri-M Music Honor Society will kick off the community sing-a-long at 4:30 p.m. A member of the Board of Selectmen will be welcoming attendees’ to the ceremony at 4:45 p.m.

Gingerbread House Contest

In addition to hosting the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Lynnfield Recreation is bringing back its Gingerbread House Contest for the 15th straight year on Saturday, Dec. 7. The contest will once again be held in Centre Congregational Church from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lynnfield Recreation has created several new categories for the popular contest. This year’s categories are as follows:

• Best Replica of a Lynnfield Field/Park;

• Best Replica of a Lynnfield Store;

• Most Pioneer Pride;

• Best Replica of a Town Building;

• Best Memory at Lynnfield Recreation;

• Most Original Theme;

• Best Holiday Spirit;

• Best Group;

• Best Sports Theme;

• Family Best;

• Best Kid;

• Best Youth;

• Best Teen;

• Best Adult.

While the Recreation Commission will be judging the vast majority of categories, attendees will be voting on the contest’s “Viewers’ Choice Award.”

The Gingerbread House Contest’s participants will be allowed to use kits, but residents are encouraged to use their imagination in order to make the gingerbread houses look unique and different. Accessories such as plastic animals and trees will be allowed, but participants should keep them to a minimum.

The cost to enter a 12” x 12” gingerbread house is $10. The cost to enter a 24” x 18” gingerbread house is $20. The cost for a combination of sizes is $25.

Participants who construct large gingerbread houses will be required to place them on a base no bigger than 24”x18.” Any larger sizes must be on two separate boards, and attendees will be required to pay for two entries.

Gingerbread House Contest participants will be required to drop off their creative creations between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at Centre Congregational Church. All entries must be picked up by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. Any house not picked up will be thrown away and the cleanup deposit of $25 will be charged to a participant’s account.

All houses need to be picked up at the church’s rear entrance on the parking lot side.

Residents can register at the Lynnfield Recreation website, www.lynnfieldrec.com, by clicking on Register for Activities. If residents have any questions, contact Mallett at 781-334-9488 or send an email to jmallett@town.lynnfield.ma.us.

Light Up Lynnfield

In addition to the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest, Lynnfield Recreation is bringing back its Light Up Lynnfield contest for a second straight year on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7.

The contest gives residents the opportunity to proudly display their decorated homes, which will be viewed by townspeople riding trolleys.

Light Up Lynnfield will feature three different categories: The “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” inspired Clark W. Griswold, Creative Use of Lights and Neighborhood Participation.

In an interview with the Villager, Mallett said 22 residents signed up to showcase their homes in the Light Up Lynnfield contest. The Recreation Commission will judge the contest’s participants on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 5.