Weekending- It’s Christmas Time in the ´Boro!

Linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday

Almost straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, the small town festival, Christmas in Springboro, has it all: its location- a main street of a historic small town; its atmosphere- bonhomie as friends and neighbors see each other at the parade, in a craft tent, in line to buy an elephant ear, or in the entertainment tent listening to an ensemble singing Christmas carols; its tradition- year after year, like clockwork, except during a pandemic, townsfolk, former townsfolk and perhaps a few out of towners who want to see what is so special about this little ‘Boro, converge to celebrate, eat a little junk food, and commence the season of celebration. 

The only weird part- it’s always held the weekend before Thanksgiving. Kicking off the season before Thanksgiving is holiday jarring. You really can forget that Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet!

Not exactly Christmas time and not winter, either, lol. Potato, potato right?

The festival always starts on Friday evening. This year, it rained all day on Friday. And then, as if the weather itself ordained the success of the festival, the rain stopped. Donnie and I walked to main street (where the festival was held) around 6:30. We met Alyssa and her boyfriend there. We walked around and got some food to eat.

Alyssa and her boyfriend left and then we waited until Abby and her guy arrived from college. It’s a bit of a tradition for college kids, if they’re able to come to the festival to attend it. Of course if they go to school far away home Springboro and have classes on Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, they are unlikely to come. But for many who go to college fairly locally, it’s common to come home for Christmas in Springboro. Abby’s young man is a guy she met in college who is not from Springboro but is from a town not far from Springboro.  He drove both of them to Springboro and the two of them met us at the festival. We had a good time walking around with them- the three of them got coffee and then we bought dinner for them at our favorite food vendor (since we’d already eaten, we didn´t get anything). We did some shopping in one of the vendor tents. 

Their romance is also straight out of a Hallmark movie. Perhaps in time, the story will be shareable :). 

The reason for the season!

Saturday, Abby and I walked to the festival and did some shopping in the stores that line main street which is where the festival is. 

This store was cute. I was sitting in the dressing room area here while Abby was trying something on.

Abby got these cute pants. The picture doesn’t show it but there’s a cute bow tie in the front.

Sunday was a special day- the four of us drove down to Cincinnati to the church that Jacob attends. Jacob was getting baptized! Such a special event and in addition to the event of baptism, we loved seeing his church (it’s huge!), hearing the message (it was good!) and meeting some of Jacob’s good friends whom he’s met through his Bible study group. 

All five us went out to lunch. Just the five of us being together is something that doesn’t happen too often so this lunch was extra special. We drove to the nearby town of Mariemont (it’s pronounced Marymont not like the spelling looks!) that is super charming. The girls had never seen the town before and I wanted them to see it and for us to eat there.

I wanted us to eat here- at the National Exemplar but the wait was too long for us...

We ended up at this pizza place (with the green awning) that was just off the main street area. In the building behind it, you can see it’s done in the same Tudor style of many buildings in this town.

Oh my word this was good! So incredibly good. Forget the National Exemplar- this is what I will come back to again! Alyssa got the baked ravioli, Abby got a sandwich, Jacob got a specialty pizza and Donnie and I ordered a deep dish pizza to share. Everyone liked his or her food!!

We made a pit stop at Graeter’s before we left. Graeter’s began in Cincinnati and now is in Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus. It sells delicious ice cream and baked goods.

I was tempted to buy this fruit cake. People make fun of fruit cake but my mom made it every year and I loved it. Candied cherries- YUM!

This cake was incredible! I got it to go and ate it at home.

On our way to our cars to leave, I spied with my little eyes, this fountain that was functioning. It was not the previous two times that I’d been to the town.

That meant one thing...

Pictures!

The best part of the rest of the day was what it didn’t consist of: Abby didn’t go back to college! Her college is not on break yet but due to a couple of classes being canceled and a class offering an online option, Abby doesn’t have to be back on campus until after Thanksgiving. So grateful for that!

I bought these at Christmas in Springboro. I hope they always remind me of how special this weekend was!