Gingerbread Wonderland

On Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church & Preschool and the non-profit Arts Outreach invite the public to attend the fifth annual “Gingerbread Wonderland” benefit event to be held at St. Mark’s campus located at 2901 Nojoqui Avenue in downtown Los Olivos. Admission is free for all ages. The church’s Stacy Hall will be transformed into a Gingerbread Wonderland featuring more than 100 handmade gingerbread houses on display crafted by local schoolchildren, families, organizations, and businesses.  Guests can vote for and enter to win their favorite gingerbread house creations using $1 raffle tickets available for purchase at the event. 

Now in its fifth year, Gingerbread Wonderland is a popular family-friendly gathering as part of long-time annual Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas festivities. According to Yvonne Lowe, St. Mark’s Preschool director, “All these gingerbread houses really embrace the Christmas spirit! We are so grateful for the community who come out to support Arts Outreach and St. Mark’s Preschool.”

According to event organizers, several messages from the North Pole have been received indicating that Santa Claus will be visiting from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in the church’s common room, providing a cozy place for kids to share their Christmas wishes with the jolly man. Diane Byington and her Solvang Conservatory students accompanied by St. Mark’s music director Beverly Staples will be providing seasonal music to enhance the merriment along with performances by Valley Glee. In the church courtyard, there will be opportunities for children to create and decorate Christmas ornaments and prepare an angel halo for the 5:45 p.m. procession leading to the Los Olivos Christmas Tree lighting at the flagpole just one block away at 6:00 p.m.

For those who would enjoy some delicious food and beverages during Gingerbread Wonderland, the courtyard at St. Mark’s will have complimentary coffee, hot apple cider as well as baked goods and food available for purchase. The Rev. Dr. Randall Day, St. Mark’s Priest and Rector remarked, “We are thrilled to host these family-friendly activities for the community again as part of the Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas. This day is a wonderful way to celebrate the season.”

Additional activities of Olde Fashioned Christmas include local craft people and artisans showing their creations for sale at the Artists Bazaar, located nearby at the Los Olivos Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Avenue from 1:00-8:00 p.m. For complete details on all December 2, 2017 festivities, visitwww.losolivosca.com/los-olivos-olde-fashioned-christmas/

For more information on making a gingerbread house, participating in, supporting or attending Gingerbread Wonderland, contact Yvonne Lowe, St. Mark’s Preschool Director at (805) 688-1815 or Sandie Mullin, Arts Outreach Executive Director at (805) 688-9533.