With just a few days left to go before the town – and Santa Claus – comes out Saturday to kick off the holiday season with the annual Country Store, Tree Lighting ceremony, the Light Up Lynnfield holiday decorating contest and the Gingerbread contest and a whole day full of fun family festivities, Recreation Department Chair Rich Sjoberg says this year will be “bigger and more magical than ever.”
“There is nothing more special than the entire Lynnfield community, gathering on the Town Common with anticipation to see the new holiday lights shining brightly,” he said. “Many families will then drive around to enjoy the always incredible home displays in this year’s 5th Annual “Light Up Lynnfield” contest.
The annual tree lighting festivities will be held on the Town Common, complete with a visit from Santa at approximately 3 p.m. when he will be available for complimentary photos.
The community holiday sing-along will be led by the Girl Scouts and the Lynnfield High School chorus starting at approximately 4:30 p.m. The festivities will conclude with a few words from the Select Board before the countdown to the tree lighting.
The Gingerbread House Contest begins with drop-off from 9-10 a.m.
A new twist this year is the houses will be displayed outside on the Town Common. People’s choice voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Categories included Best Family, Best Group, Best Individual, Best Holiday Scene and Best Pioneer Pride.
Winners will be announced immediately after the contest closes.
This year marks the fifth year of the Light Up Lynnfield! house decorating contest. Each year, participants go all out to see if they can come away with a prize.
This year, Rec is encouraging residents to consider holiday movie themes, such as Elf, The Polar Express and The Grinch and other holiday favorites.
People can vote online on the Rec website (a link will soon be available). All voting closes on Sunday, Dec. 4.
Maps depicting all the homes entered in the contest will be available online and at the Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec 3.The winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 1.
“The afternoon would not be so memorable without the help of our countless Lynnfield REC volunteers,” said Sjoberg. “I would like to give a special thank you to the Lynnfield Recreation Commission, Recreation Director Julie Mallet and her husband, Billy Mallet, Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin, DPW Director John Tomasz for their planning and preparations.
“Without them, the Tree Lighting Ceremony would not be able to run so smoothly.”
Sjoberg also expressed his thanks to the Lynnfield Police and Fire Departments “for keeping everyone safe by providing officers and firefighters during the event.”
Truth be told, the weekend is chock full of Rec Department activities so much so that Sjoberg is calling Saturday a “trifecta” with not only the holiday events, but the first-ever sessions of pickleball and futsal at the new Huckleberry Hill School gymnasium.
For questions or more information, contact Recreation Director Julie Mallett at 781-334-9488 or jmallett@town.lynnfield.ma.us.
