November 6, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
There’s lots of fun in store for the holiday season in Hingham, from Christmas in the Square and other downtown festivities, St. John’s Holiday Boutique, and the Hingham Holiday Fair to a Hanukkah Celebration at the end of December.
These events provide a fun-filled opportunity to get a start on holiday shopping as well as decorating ideas and to catch up with friends and neighbors.
Be sure to stop by the 16th annual Hingham Holiday Fair –showcasing a wide variety of products designed and created by close to 100 vendors, including some new ones, and home-based business owners — Saturday, Nov. 23, at Hingham High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Offerings will include holiday and home decor, unique holiday and everyday gifts for all ages — even dogs! — hostess gifts, giftware from local shops, gourmet treats, and HHS clothing and memorabilia. There will also be a raffle of themed baskets.
“We have expanded our outside vendors, who will be under the covered walkway in front of the school and in tents, creating an outdoor market,” event organizer Lisa Lavieri told the Hingham Anchor. Two food trucks from previous years will also be returning for the enjoyment of hungry and thirsty shoppers.
A large group of HHS students is donating their time to assist with moving the professional vendors in and out of the school.
For more information and to view vendor lists and photos, go to www.hinghamholidayfair.com.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through the Pan-Mass Challenge. The $5 event fee includes a raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase.
A festively decorated golf cart will take shoppers from the far parking lot to the front door as before — sometimes singing carols along the way!
St. John’s Holiday Boutique on the same day — Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — is known as “an unsurpassed holiday shopping experience,” offering a curated selection of amazing vendors — from homemade jam and sweets, wooden toys, and party supplies to exquisite hand-crafted jewelry, books, art, and outdoor apparel.
Santa will pay a visit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for photos with happy children who are eager to share their wishlists with the jolly fellow.
The cafe will be back with a full menu, including coffee, tea, sweet treats, and lunch items.
“This year’s Holiday Boutique is a not-to-miss event! St. John’s is delighted to welcome back favorite merchants as well as open our doors to new vendors and variety,” St. John’s Board Chair Jody Jones Turner told the Hingham Anchor. “The holiday bulb shop will be in full bloom, and guests won’t want to miss the Holiday Cafe, serving up a delicious fall menu. The Boutique is a perfect jumpstart to holiday cheer and early shopping. We hope to see you there!”
The bulb booth will be located in the sanctuary, filled with beautifully potted double-blooming amaryllis bulbs and fragrant narcissus in decorative containers. These high-quality bulbs are considered to be “showstoppers,” producing multiple stems and large flowers, perfect for both gifting and for one’s own home. All proceeds from this booth benefit the good works of St. John’s.
One hundred percent of door proceeds benefit the Cohasset Appalachia Service Project, a home-building ministry serving some of the poorest people in our country. A number of St. John’s parishioners plan and attend this trip each year. The entrance fee is $3.
Upon his recent arrival at St. John’s, Rev. Edward Thornley, Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist, “one of the most talked about and celebrated events of our parish’s year has been the Holiday Boutique. It is not only a fun event, but has been an ever-growing, community-building and hope-inspiring tradition of St. John’s for 24 years,” he said. “It brings people together, provides an opportunity for the church to engage with the wider community, and raises money for so many great causes.
It is the most joyful way to begin a season of the year where we celebrate all those things that we are truly thankful for.”
For further details about the boutique, go to https://www.stjohns-hingham.org/holiday-boutique.
The traditional Christmas in the Square event — hosted by the Hingham Downtown Association — kicks off the season in Hingham Square and the surrounding area Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of the month-long “Hingham for the Holidays” celebration.
This much-looked-forward-to annual event will feature a visit from Santa, performances, and vendors, and an opportunity to stop by local shops to see what they have in store for the holidays.
Other Hingham for the Holiday events include a Downtown Holiday Preview Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring holiday collections, special treats, trunk shows, and more.
Support local businesses during Small Business Saturdays beginning Nov. 30 and continuing through December.
For more details about Hingham for the Holidays and surrounding activities, visit https://discoverhingham.com/events/.
The Old Ship Merrie Market at its new Hingham Community Center location at 70 South St. will feature gift baskets, a silent auction, treasures, festive crafts, baked treats, and more. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Congregation Sha’aray Shalom will host a Hanukkah Celebration featuring a special driedel and candy drop with the Hingham Fire Department, games, dancing, and other fun activities for the whole family Sunday, Dec. 29, at 5 p.m.
The congregation is also partnering with the Hingham Unity Council, Hingham Community Center, and the Hingham Human Rights Commission to host a menorah lighting at Hingham Community Center on Monday, Dec. 30, with more details to come.
The Hingham Anchor wishes everyone a happy holiday season!