The Bedford community will welcome the holidays on Saturday, December 7, as the town celebrates the annual tree lighting and Santa’s arrival on the Common at 5:00 p.m. In conjunction with that breathtaking event, an Artisans Market, co-sponsored by the Bedford Cultural District and First Parish, will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the church, located at 75 Great Road. More than 25 creative vendors will sell original, giftable art and crafts across two floors of display space.

Outdoors that day, establishments will open their doors to spread good cheer, and the little ones can enjoy a Winter Walkabout with a Holiday Storybook Trail. Also on the merry itinerary is a Kids’ Free Holiday Market downstairs at First Parish.

Here’s the road map to an afternoon of fun:

Winter Walkabout, 2:00–6:00 p.m

Various local institutions will put out their welcome mats and offer refreshments and holiday cheer. The Bedford Historical Society will be selling giftable Bedford memorabilia and books. Visitors will find warmup stations at these locations:

Barrett Sotheby’s
Fire Station
Artisans Market
Bedford Historical Society
Bri Bragon Salon
WearOvers
Brown & Brown
Suzanne & Company
Ken’s NY Deli
Body Temple Massage

Drop in and savor the fun!

Holiday Storybook Trail Along Great Road, 2:00–6:00 p.m., Continuing Sunday, December 8

A downtown Holiday Storybook Trail will trace the tale of The Best Gift for Bear by Jennnifer Bell. The trail will start at the Bedford Free Public Library, 7 Mudge Way, and end at the Artisans Market at First Parish.

Kids’ Free Holiday Market at First Parish, 2:00–5:00 p.m.

A don’t-miss stop for children will be the Kids’ Free Holiday Market downstairs at First Parish, 2:00–5:00 p.m.

The event promises a world of fun to wide-eyed young visitors. From 2:00 to 3:30, kids (assisted by volunteer elves) can select and wrap free presents for gifting to their grownups. Childcare is available at this time, allowing parents to shop upstairs at the Artisans Market. From 3:30 to 4:30, adults may assist their kids in shopping, and from 4:30 to 5:00 the children’s gift area will be open for sensory-sensitive kids to shop in a way that is comfortable for them.

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For further information on these events, visit the website of the Bedford Cultural District, www.bedfordma.gov/culturaldistrict.