Published in the November 29, 2017 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

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

The town will ring in the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 2, when the Historical Society hosts its annual Country Store and Lynnfield Recreation holds the annual Tree Lighting ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest. Lynnfield Recreation is hosting the first annual town trolley tour as well.

The festive events have been a big hit with residents over the years, and the two organizations are hoping for great weather and a high turnout in order to spread holiday cheer across town.

Country Store

The Lynnfield Historical Society will be holding its 55th annual Country Store in the Meeting House, which opens at 9 a.m. and will stay open through the Tree Lighting ceremony. Similar to previous years, the Historical Society will be using proceeds from the event to maintain the upkeep of the Meeting House.

The Country Store will be selling wreaths and swags once again. The Village Home and Garden Club will be selling decorated trees at the Country Store. The Lottery Contest, sponsored by the Centre Club, will be held at the store as well.

A variety of food will be sold including Vermont Cabot Cheese, ham and bean dinners, homemade baked goods and popcorn. Mrs. Claus’ Snacks and Lunch Kitchen will also be selling food at the Country Store, and residents will be able to purchase singing marshes jelly and jam.

The Historical Society will be welcoming Santa Claus to the Country Store at 10:45 a.m., and the Lynnfield Fire Department will be filling in for Santa’s sleigh and reindeer in order to bring Santa to the Meeting House. Parents will be able to stop by and take pictures of their children with Old Saint Nick.

The Country Store will be offering activities for children as well as adults, including a tree ornament making station. Colby Properties is sponsoring Santa’s North Pole Fishing Hole once again. Additionally, children and adults will be able to do their holiday shopping at Santa’s Five and Dime, where attendees can pick out gifts and have them wrapped on site.

Tree lighting ceremony

While the Country Store is open for business, Lynnfield Recreation will once again be hosting the annual Tree Lighting ceremony and 13th annual Gingerbread House Contest on Saturday.

 The Tree Lighting ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. on the Town Common, when refreshments will be served. Santa Claus will be coming back to town shortly after the ceremony begins. Parents will be able to have a free complimentary picture of their children taken with Santa.

The community singing portion of the Tree Lighting ceremony will take place at 4:15 p.m., which will be led by the Girl Scouts of Lynnfield and the Lynnfield High School Tri-M Music Honor Society. A member of the Board of Selectmen will be welcoming attendees to the ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

After the annual lighting of the trees takes place, Lynnfield Recreation will be offering a trolley ride around town, where attendees can view holiday lights. The trolley ride will begin at 5:15 p.m. and will conclude at 6:15 p.m.

The trolley ride will cost $8 per person and will be capped at 38 people. An adult must accompany children on the trolley ride.

In order to reserve a spot, residents should register online at www.lynnfieldrec.com.

Gingerbread House Contest

The 13th 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.

• Entries must be made from gingerbread using only food materials in authentic categories.

• 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. 1 at Centre Congregational Church.

• All entries must be picked up by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

If a contest participant does not pick up their gingerbread house, it 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 a 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 (nine 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 www.lynnfieldrec.com.