The Cumberland County Public Library has released plans for its annual Holiday Boutique & Cookie Walk. Scheduled for Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 3, the library has added several activities and contests to this year’s fundraiser. The events will take place during the library’s regular operating hours.

The Holiday Boutique has been a fixture at the library for several years. Featuring an assortment of new and handmade items donated to the library and offered for sale, the boutique allows residents to shop locally for holiday gifts and support their public library at the same time. Several of the items are one-of-a-kind and include options suitable for family, friends and even pets.

Brought back last year, the Cookie Walk features a variety of home baked cookies available for sale. For those new to a cookie walk, it entails buying an empty Ziploc bag for a specific price and then walking around the table to pick up as many cookies as will fit in the bag and still close. Cookies are donated by local bakers and a wide variety of types and flavors are available for purchase for holiday parties and activities over the three days of the event. As part of the Cookie Walk, a cookie baking contest is being held to see who is the “Best Cookie Baker in Cumberland County” for 2018. Winners will be announced at the Christmas Tree Lighting on Monday, Dec. 3.

Even the children have scheduled activities during this year’s event. A Children’s Art Contest is being held with entries due no later than Nov.16. Open to children in grades PreK to grade 4, contest entry is limited to one per child and should be original artwork on 8.5”x11” white or off-white paper or cardstock. Ten (10) winners will be selected with the overall winner’s artwork used on the program cover for the annual Christmas tree Lighting. Winning artwork and as many of the non-winning entries as possible will be displayed in the library throughout the month of December with the exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 30.

In addition to the art contest, children will be able to visit with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parents can take pictures of their child with Santa. While at the library, children can also complete a craft to take home and place on their own Christmas tree or give as a gift to someone special. The craft workshop is free.

The Holiday Boutique & Cookie Walk will end Monday night, Dec. 3, with more fun activities planned. An Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is being held prior to the annual Christmas tree Lighting. Interested individuals should register their sweaters beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday in order to get an entrant number. Judging will begin around 5:30 p.m. with library guests voting for their choices in the categories of Most Tacky, Most Sparkle, Most Colorful and Most Creative. Dig out your Christmas sweaters and see if your name is called as a winner during the Tree Lighting program later that evening, which will feature local talent.

According to Cumberland County Public Library Director Maegan Lewis, “The Holiday Boutique and Cookie Walk will be a way to involve the whole family in kicking off the Christmas season.”

For more information visit www.cumberlandcountypubliclibrary.org.