By Christine Galeone

Whether you’re ready or not, the holiday season officially begins next week. And although it’s a season filled with good cheer, the preparations can sometimes be a bit stressful.

Thankfully, Grafton businesses and organizations will be helping people to prepare for the holidays. And they’ll do so in fun and festive ways.  

On Sunday Dec. 8, the Grafton Recreation Department will hold its 29th annual Grafton Celebrates the Holidays event. The event will include a craft and vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Grafton High School, festivities at “Frosty Stops” throughout Grafton from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Santa’s arrival at the Common around 4:30 p.m. and the lighting of the Common around 4:45.  

This year, on Saturday Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m., Highfields Golf & Country Club will host the 12th annual Santapalooza. The concert will feature music from Candy Criminals, Electric Flannel, Ripple Effect and The Schmactoids. There will also be raffles, a 50/50 raffle and photos with Santa. The cost of admission is a new, unwrapped $10 toy for Toys for Tots or a $10 cash or Venmo donation. There will also be a separate all-you-can-eat buffet that you can buy tickets for by Dec. 4. For more information, you can visit the Santapalooza 12 Facebook page. 

On Saturday Nov. 30 – which is Small Business Saturday – in North Grafton, Angel Hair Alpacas will hold its annual open house from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition to fun, educational farm tours and free refreshments, there will be pop-up vendors selling things such as fudge, gift items and jewelry. Its own farm shop will be selling knitted garments and yarn.

On Saturday Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 8, the 2nd Annual Blackstone Valley Festival of Trees will be held at Northbridge Town Hall’s Great Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free event includes several decorated holiday trees with different themes and gifts, which will be voted on and raffled off. All proceeds benefit the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter. The free event will also include children’s activities. Two of the event’s sponsors are Gaudette Insurance Agency and UniBank. Additionally, there’s a preview party Dec. 6 that people can buy tickets for.

At Off the Common Antiques, the multi-artisan, multi-vendor shop that has a wide array of Christmas and winter-themed hand-crafted and antique ornaments and décor, on Saturday Nov. 23, the Baptist Church of Grafton will be selling its homemade apple pies. The proceeds will fund the church’s efforts to help those in need. Last year, the proceeds raised helped provide local Haitian immigrants with winter clothes, and they helped provide food to the Grafton Food Bank. 

The Grafton Country Store, the Grafton Common gift shop that sells gifts, jewelry, décor and accessories, among other things, boasts a wide selection of holiday gifts (including many featuring snowmen, reindeer and cardinals), Christmas wreaths, ornaments and décor. Currently, it’s also selling tiny hand-knitted winter hats to benefit Veterans, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides a vast array of services for veterans throughout New England.

Preparing for the holidays is much less stressful when you focus on the warmth and merriment. Have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Contact Christine with your business news items at [email protected].