The Christmas festival is in its 24th season this year, open Frisday, Saturday and Sunday only. 300 artists come and show their goods here-you can find almost anything here: jewelry, clothing, food products, toys, ornaments, puzzles, stained glass and more. I’ve been going for years now-here are some of my favorite things…and some new things that I found this year.

Every year they have a gingerbread house competition. You can bid on them and bring one home!

The Flinstones!!

This year I picked up a gift at Color in Kids. You kids color in on the shirt, with non toxic markers, wear them, and then you throw them in the wash-like magic the color washes away. $14 for 1, 2 for $25. Cute idea for kids.

Judy’s dough ornaments. She has been coming to the festival for years now. She makes all kinds of ornaments, ones with professions, and pictured above, bears in college colors. You can get any of the ornaments personalized while you wait. $12.95 each or $13.95 with a stand. I like to glue a magnet on the back and put them on the fridge. You can check out her website, but her business is done mainly at craft shows. http://www.judycaron.com/index.html

I love this! It’s from Luke Adams Handblown Glass (416 Lenox Street #2, Norwood, MA 02062. Phone 781-688-1521). His website is www.1hotpieceofglass.com He has some great sun catchers, above, in the shapes of stars, hearts, chili peppers etc. They are $17 each-see website for other pictures and prices.

I first learned about this next place at the festival, but in between festivals, I frequently check out their shop. They make great gingerbread cookies, gingerbread houses and excellent muffins. http://gingerbreadusa.com/

They have two locations:

Winchester Store 562 Washington Street  Winchester, MA 01890 (781) 729-7700; Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wakefield Store 52 Main Street Wakefield, MA 01880 (781) 246-2200; Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The gingerbread cookies are super cute, they come in boy and girl varieties. They are a great consistency-not too hard and not too soft. They last a few weeks as is, but you can throw them in the freezer and they can last until Christmas.

The muffins come as a four pack or as singles at the festival-they are pre packed, so you can’t choose. My pack came with carrot, raspberry blueberry, chocolate dream and gingerbread. The carrot is one of my favorites. The muffins are really more like cake than a  muffin.

The cake is so moist. There is a great frosting to muffin ratio. I love the flavor of the cake-you can see the shreds of carrots, the raisins and the walnuts. It also has coconut and pineapple in it, but they are subtle.

Again, the muffin is so moist. There is a great spice to the cake, I love the ring of icing (cream cheese)-and it’s dusted with powdered sugar to add a little sweetness!

The chocolate dream is “modeled after the owners wedding cake”. The cake is even moister than the others-is that possible? It almost falls apart at the touch, its so light and fluffy. Great chocolate flavor-although I wish the frosting was a little more chocolatey.

Blueberry raspberry-the best of both worlds. Really moist muffin, sweet and tart berries. Great bits of crumble on top. See the website for other flavors-they are only available in the store, no mail order. Other flavors I love are the strawberry shortcake-yellow cake with strawberries and whipped cream; the corn muffin, so basic, but yet so perfect-corn muffins can be dry, but not these; and the lemon poppy-lemon filling, tangy and moist-excellent. I highly suggest stopping by the store for the muffins.

Christmas Festival

Set your gps to 22 Seaport Blvd. Boston MA

Follow them on Twitter

http://www.bostonchristmasfestival.com/