Gingerbread house classes, tree lit: Looks a lot like Christmas

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

Santa Claus is coming to town … the town of Indian Head.

As of this week, lighted snowflakes and Christmas banners line the highway in town.

Town residents will be able to share in the Christmas spirit all month long.

On Tuesday, the town kicked off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting program at the Indian Head Village Green Pavilion.

The tradition has been going on for more than 30 years.

It's "all about the musical talents of our three schools — Indian Head Elementary, General Smallwood Middle and Henry E. Lackey High," Karen Williams, the town's community affairs director, wrote in an e-mail, adding that the community activities committee will serve cookies and hot cocoa.

From 6:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 11 and from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 13, the town will host its 15th annual gingerbread house classes at the pavilion.

Spaces are still available and anyone interested should register for the event, Williams said. The cost to participate is $10 for one person or $12 for a pair. Participants should bring their own candy to decorate the gingerbread house. The first-place winner will get $25, second place $15 and third place will get $10.

At 5 p.m. Dec. 12, residents are invited to bring nature-friendly ornaments to decorate the town's festival of trees at the Village Green. Williams suggests ornaments such as pine cones with peanut butter and bird seed or anything with cranberries and dried fruit. Another option would be garland made of Cheerios or sliced dried oranges.

New this year on the same night at 6, the town plans to hold a memorial ribbon ceremony at the pavilion.

Donald Willett, chairman of the community activities committee, came up with the idea for the memorial ribbon ceremony, Williams said.

Willett's wife died in 1995 and is buried at Trinity Memorial Gardens, he said, adding that each year the cemetery has a memorial ribbon tree.

"I really liked the idea," he said.

As a member of the Potomac Heights Board of Directors, he started the memorial ribbon tree there. "It was a large success," Willett said, and that's why he wanted to try it in Indian Head.

Prior to the event, participants can purchase red ribbons with the names of their loved ones. The price is $2 for one or six ribbons for $10 and all proceeds will go to Neighbors Eager to Serve, a west county nonprofit that provides services to needy people.

Ribbons will adorn an artificial tree standing outside the Village Green Pavilion.

During the memorial ceremony, Willett and residents will read the names of those memorialized.

"I think, honestly, it brings the community back together again," he said. "I saw that happen right here in Potomac Heights. … That's really what it's all about."

From 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 there will be a holiday festival and craft fair at the pavilion featuring entertainment, crafts and letters to Santa for children, homemade refreshments, photos with Santa and the Painter family's antique trains. The cost to attend is $1 per person and all proceeds will go to NETS.

With the help of the Indian Head Volunteer Fire Department, Santa will take a trip around town atop the department's fire truck to see the local children from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 23.

According to Indian Head Mayor Ed Rice the prime benefit to being in a town "is having a group [of volunteers] to plan community events in the town," otherwise, residents would have to search elsewhere for things to do around the holidays.

spoynor@somdnews.com