3rd Annual Westwood Holiday Walkabout Preview: Santa Photos/Letters, Fresh Donuts, and Local Artisans

By tradition, the first Saturday of December is a time when Westwood hosts a variety of activities that help launch locals' holiday season, and this year is no exception, as the 3rd annual Westwood Holiday Walkabout – one of Westwood's largest events of the season that features baked goods, local art, and family-friendly activities – will be held on Saturday, December 6th. Along with familiar favorites, this year’s Walkabout features new offerings and new participants.

First Parish of Westwood, a fair partner in past years, has opted out of this year’s Walkabout in favor of hosting a series of smaller, separate events, but the Walkabout has also officially gained two additional hosts. The Westwood Young Women’s Club will offer families a chance to take holiday photos with Santa and Elsa at the Westwood Council on Aging Gazebo. BiBi’s Café & Bakery will offer an opportunity to write a letter to Santa using a special mailbox to ensure delivery.

At First Baptist Church of Westwood,  three local Scouts are adding freshly made donuts to the traditional offerings from their Silver Beaver Café at the church. Darren Valentine, Chris Gross, and Ron Gauld plan on cutting, frying, and filling several varieties of donuts on Saturday morning. Also offered at the café will be small batch roasted coffee, tea, hot cocoa and other beverages. At this time, the lunch menu includes chili, hot dogs, chicken salad, soup, and apple crisps with ice cream for dessert.

Photo courtesy of First Baptist Church of Westwood. Members of the Crafters Group at First Baptist work on handmade crafts that will be sold during the church's Holly Fair, as part of the Westwood Holiday Walkabout.

Visitors looking for Girl Scout cookies that in past years were sold at First Parish can find them this year at First Baptist.

Along with these new offerings, First Baptist is bringing back its familiar offerings of baked goods, handmade decorations by its Crafters’ Group, gently used jewelry, attic treasures, and a hot lunch. 

Westwood Artists is also a familiar presence and will again hold its December Marketplace at the historic Fisher School, where eight Westwood resident artisans will show and sell hand-crafted items in a range of media, including painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, knits, candles, and felt.  Participating artists are Carol Ahearn, Karen Flowers Cagan, Arleen Fafara, Betsy Husted, Kathleen O’Donnell, Luyao Qiu, Cynthia Senerchia, and Lisa WB Walker.

As in past years, the Mass Appeal Boston a cappella singers will be making visits to the Holly Fair and Artists’ Marketplace to provide live entertainment.

All locations are situated along a walkable route along High and Nahatan streets.

Image courtesy of Westwood Artists. Visitors to the 3rd Annual Westwood Holiday Walkabout have activities at four locations this year. For a printable map with hours and times of each location, click open the attachment at the bottom of this article.

Thanks to First Baptist Church of Westwood and Westwood Artists for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.

Updated 11/21/2025 at 10:40 a.m.

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