Wilmington, MA. Yet another holiday crafts & foods fair. See Web site for coupon. http://www.castleberryfairs.com That ought to keep you humming Frosty the Snowman for a week. Please note, I often post last minute updates solely to my livejournal. If you are bookmarking a page, go to http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com. And if you want the information by email, join the mailing list at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/johnnys-list-Johnny

Hi!

Here are some last minute updates!

I thought this merited a special note because Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo are both free on Nov 23, the day after Thanksgiving. Both parks are open all winter long. http://www.franklinparkzoo.org and http://www.stonezoo.org

Also there’s a ticket discount merchant thingy they’re disguising as the “Mayor’s Holiday Special”, through Jan 1. Basically you get discounted tickets to a number of citywide theatre and arts shows. http://www.artsboston.org/mhs

They’re having another 17th cenutry Thanksgiving event in Deerfield, MA. A Season of Thanks, Nov 24, features. 17th century handcraft demonstrations, music, by the Springfield Society. 413-775-7127. http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/events_holidays.html

The Hancock Shaker Village is more in the 1830s, and they’re holding a “Shaker Supper” on Nov 24. A cappella Shaker music and food from the 1830s. Route 20 & 41, Pittsfield, MA. http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/page.php?PageID=382

People who are, shall we say, not exactly rocket scientists, are welcome to join in the Annual Cold Turkey Plunge, on Thanksgiving morning on Nantucket Island. Nov 22. 10am. Nantucket Athenaeum, Children’s Beach. 508-228-1110 ext 107. http://www.nantucketchamber.org/visitor/events.html

A number of local towns have Santa parades or tree lighting festivals. Since lighting a tree these days takes less than a second to flip a switch, I’m not sure what the big deal is. Maybe in Ye Olde Dayse they have to manually light little candles around Ye Olde Fire Hazard Pine Tree, and that’s where tree lighting as a viewing sport comes from.

Anyway, here are a few:

— Gloucester, MA. This one looks the most fun to me. Gloucester’s Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, Nov 25, Starts at 3pm at the State Fish Pier, ends at Kent Circle around 4:30pm. Participatory Christmas carols. Fill out a holiday card to troops overseas and get some free popcorn and hot chocolate. http://www.capeannvacations.com/festival-event.cfm?id=377&mk=3&ck=0&em=&ey=

— Winthrop, MA. Winthrop Holiday Lighting Festival, Nov 23, http://www.winthropchamber.com

— Medway, MA. Santa Parade and Fireworks, Nov 24, Choate Park, Medway, MA. Parade starts at 5:30pm on Holliston Street (near Medway Middle School) and ends at Choate Park on Route 109. Then 6:30pm fireworks over Choate Pond. Santa. Participatory holiday carols. choatefriends@yahoo.com. http://www.whofish.org/events/Medway/MA/Santa_Parade_and_Fireworks_in_Medway_s_Choate_Park/78288.aspx

— Newburport, MA. Newburyport Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, Nov 25,