St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church and Preschool and the nonprofit Arts Outreach invite community members to the seventh annual Gingerbread Wonderland benefit, 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at St. Mark’s, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. Admission is free.
The church’s Stacy Hall will be transformed into a Gingerbread Wonderland displaying dozens of hand-crafted gingerbread houses created by local schoolchildren, families, organizations and businesses. Guests can vote for and enter to win their favorite gingerbread house using $1 raffle tickets available for purchase at the event.
According to event organizers, several messages from the North Pole have been received and Santa Claus will be in the St. Mark’s church common room, 4-8 p.m., providing a cozy place for kids to share their wishes and take their own pictures with Santa. Children will also have a chance to create and decorate Christmas ornaments and do crafts in the church courtyard.
Holiday musical entertainment will feature Diane Byington and her Solvang Conservatory students accompanied by St. Mark’s music director Beverly Staples, and performances by Valley Glee.
Refreshments will be served in the courtyard including complimentary coffee, hot apple cider as well as baked goods and food available for purchase.
Gingerbread Wonderland is a family friendly gathering that is part of the long-time annual Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas festivities.
“We are so grateful for the community members of all ages who come out to support Arts Outreach and St. Mark’s Preschool,” said Yvonne Lowe, St. Mark’s Preschool director. “All these gingerbread designs make the Christmas spirit come vibrantly alive.”
“Once again, we are thrilled to host all these family-friendly activities for the entire community as well as visitors. This day is a wonderful way to welcome the Christmas season,” said the Rev. Dr. Randall Day, St. Mark’s priest and rector.
For more information on making a gingerbread house creation, participating in, supporting or attending 2019 Gingerbread Wonderland, contact Lowe, 805-688-1815 or Sandie Mullin, arts outreach executive director, 805-688-9533 or visit www.smitv.org/gingerbread-wonderland.html.
For complete details on all Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas activities on Dec. 7, visit www.losolivosca.com/los-olivos-olde-fashioned-christmas/. For more about Arts Outreach, visit www.artsoutreach.org.
— Laura Kath for St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church.