Holiday Fairs

 

Look, Carolers!

  I have to admit, I like baked goods. I also love Christmas. When you combine the two you get church fairs and holiday fairs. Laurie and I make a point to go to a fair or two during the season. Saturday we went to three.

   First up was a church fair in Mansfield. We bought some cookies and a slice of pumpkin pie. There were many raffles but we chose not to buy any raffle tickets at this fair.

  Up next was the Little Red Schoolhouse in North Attleboro. The schoolhouse and the Garrison house next door are owned by the Historical Society. They were both built in the 1700's. The third graders go to these two structures on a field trip every year as a tour of the town. They dress up in period clothes and learn about the town history. It is one of my fondest childhood memories. 

   

Despite being a ghost, 
Jacob Marley was kind 
enough to pose for a 
photo with me

Saturday, we just bought some Apricot Bread from the schoolhouse. The Woodcock Garrison House was not open until 11 am and we were over an hour early. When it is open, there is a fire going in the fireplace and the docents give a tour of the building. There are many artifacts over three hundred years old. I was a little disappointed that we couldn't go into the Garrison House, but our next stop more than  made up for it.

   Next, we went to the Dickens Fair at the All Souls Church in Braintree. Laurie found this place on line doing a Google search of  "Massachusetts holiday fairs". The reason we drove so far for Christmas cookies was because it was Dickens themed. You could get your photo taken with characters from "A Christmas Carol".

 

The most organized Christmas cookies I've ever seen

 There are two rooms in the church. One of course, is where sermons are held. In this room was a craft fair. They had things from homemade ornaments to catnip infused beds for your cat. The other room had a raffle table, baked goods, and places to sit. Laurie bought some raffle tickets but we did not win anything. 

   There were characters from Dickens classic. They all got together and sang Christmas carols. After they were done, I tracked down Jacob Marley and got my photo with him. Also there was Father Christmas, how could I not get my photo with someone so famous? I mean, the guy is a legend.

While these fairs are now nothing but a memory. There are still plenty of fairs across the region from church fairs, craft fairs in high school gyms to Plainridge Casino. I saw get out and go buy an apple pie or Cranberry Bread. Make the season fun. Worst case scenario, you don't win any raffles and you eat your feelings with Snickerdoodles! 

   

A good time was had by all

Father Christmas!!!!!!!