Coastal Christmas Weekend

It feels like Christmas has already arrived in Scituate! We started the weekend off with First Friday Night in the harbor. It was so much fun to see the streets lined with paper lanterns and the shops all aglow with Christmas cheer. Over at the Inn we gathered around the tree drinking hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols while watching the beautiful tree being lit. We also enjoyed the warm, sugar coated doughnuts outside of the Roman Table. John and Conor loved seeing them made from scratch.

Saturday morning brought Santa to Scituate via the Harbormaster’s Boat:

The lights were flashing and the sirens going and a whole throng of people were awaiting the big guy’s arrival. All the children were so excited to see him. My two boys nearly fell into the harbor trying to get to him.

Waving to Santa

This event in Scituate is known as “The Santa Stroll” and it is one of my most favorite events in our town. It is so magical to see all these people waiting for jolly St. Nick! Scituate Community Christmas puts together the event culminating in a huge party at the Scituate Harbor Community Building. They had it all for the kids: hot chocolate, cookie decorating, face painting, crafts, photos with Santa and even little goodie bags. It was such a fun event.

Two angels on Santa’s lap

Scituate Community Christmas is a wonderful organization that started in 1989 to help provide food and Christmas gifts to Scituate families who faced economic hardships or other circumstances during the holiday season. Over the years it has helped hundreds of families. If you are interested in helping out wrapping or want more information, here is a list of their current needs.

As if this wasn’t enough, my weekend got even better by sharing a day with my mom. We had a great day at the Coastal Holiday House Tour and Boutique that benefited the Scituate Elementary Schools. There were so many beautiful holiday items and handmade gifts at the boutique. I’ve never been on a house tour and it was so much fun. All the houses were decked out with holiday cheer, swags, ribbons and baubles. So many fun and imaginative decorating ideas.

As many know, I love really simple decor and my favorite stop on the house tour wasn’t a house, but a small white chapel, one you could picture heaped with snow and twinkling candles in the window on a snowy Christmas Eve. Outside the chapel was a small Christmas tree decorated with burlap and pinecones.

There was an old fashioned sleigh heaped with presents and boxwood:

On the doorstep a lantern and a basket full of winter greenery:

Inside the Union Mission Chapel (founded in 1885) the decor was also nature inspired. The smell of freshly cut balsam filled the air as the antique oil lamps set the room in a warm glow. We felt like we’d been transported in time to a celebration long in the past. The swag, fresh garland and wreathes were all so simple and beautiful.