Shoppers arrived early to Boothbay Region Garden Club's annual holiday event, with several having to park on Emery Lane due to a full parking lot at St. Columba's Episcopal Church.

"They were standing at the door before we opened," said member Kevin Bowler, adding "The parking lot was full so people parked on (Emery Lane). We could barely keep up!"   

The array of items offered in GRGC's shops - Nature's Gifts, Deck the Halls, Comfort & Joy, the Sweet Shop, themed gift baskets and themed trees - ensured there was a present to buy for everyone. 

Themes for this year's trees, for example, included gingerbread, complete with gingers with lights; angels, cardinals and berries, and the traditional ornaments.

Gift baskets always fly out the door. Said Sandra Abernathy, "We made at least 95 baskets. Elaine Gabrielli, Karen Riley and I make a list, buy a lot of items ourselves and other garden club members do, too. We try to have fun titles for them. We've been doing this for a long time. Karen Riley, Elaine Gabrielli and Abernathy. Many of us have brand new items we've never used." Baskets are collected from various sources, including the Rotary Club. Charcuterie, tea time, children's reading baskets, toy baskets various ages; gardening, soup, newborn and baby baskets; coffee, gluten-free treats, and backyard camping are but a few of the themes in the 2025 show.

The event was Dec. 5 and 6.

A few of the charming offerings included: for outdoor decor, instead of a wreath, there was a horse head swag complete with flowing mane; pine cone angels, and a tree with wire rolled into a wide cone for a trunk, adorned with white pip berries and warm white lights then wrapped in barely there wide iridescent bow material.

Sweets of all kinds and all flavors beckoned. The Sweet Shop had sleds with candy bar seats, hot pepper jam, Toll House cookies, snickerdoodles and more holiday cookies ready for the freezer.