PHOTOS: Junior League of Greenwich’s Enchanted Forest Runs Through Saturday at Christ Church

Maxwell and Liam Vanderslice enjoyed checking out the gingerbread houses at The Enchanted Forest at Christ Church. Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

The Junior League of Greenwich’s “Enchanted Forest” has a new venue this year. The family friendly event is at Christ Church and runs through Saturday.

Be prepared to be dazzled by a sea of gingerbread houses and Christmas trees decorated in inventive themes. There are dozens of vendors, photos with Santa, gingerbread house making, food trucks, the ever-popular children’s giving shop, plus a host of activities under the big white tent on the lawn outside the church.

On Friday afternoon 7th grade volunteers from GCDS Todd Rosenbaum and Will Duncan said they were enjoying their volunteer hours in the children’s giving shop. The room is bursting with gifts of donated items that children can purchase for just a few dollars in a supervised setting. Volunteers like Todd and Will help the children go through their list, and then the gifts are wrapped by another set of volunteers.

“I got all my gifts here when I was little,” said Will. “It’s a good memory for me.”

“The kids are a little shy when they arrive, but we talk to them and go through their list of who they’re buying presents for and ask them questions. Then they start to have fun,” Todd said.

Some of the winners included the Most Festive, which went to “Santa’s Wonderland” by Susan Arturi, and Most Original, which went to “The Road Home is Never Long by Preschool at 2nd Congregational Church. The Best Merchant Entry went to Whole Foods Market and the Best Junior League of Greenwich entry went to Touch a Truck. The Best School Tree went to Stanwich School and the Best Youth Group Tree went to Greenwich Animal Control.

The Enchanted Forest event runs through Saturday, Nov 18 at Christ Church from 9:00am until 6:00pm. Christ Church is located at 254 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich.

Junior League of Greenwich volunteers with Santa, who will be available for photos with children through Saturday, Nov 18. Photo: Leslie Yager

A Christmas tree decorated for Greenwich Animal Control is featured at the Enchanted Forest through Nov 18, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

A giant white tent is set up in front of Chris Church to make room for children’s activities during the Enchanted Forest, which runs through Nov 18, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

GCDS 7th graders Todd Rosenbaum and Will Duncan were busy in the Children’s Giving Shop at the Enchanted Forest. The boys helped children pick out presents. Photo: Leslie Yager

The Junior League of Greenwich’s Enchanted Forest at Christ Church features one of a kind gingerbread houses and decorated Christmas trees. Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

The Byxbee girls making a gingerbread house at The Enchanted Forest on Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

The PAWS of Greenwich gingerbread house features Hope the dog in a cute white cottage. Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

Volunteers awaited the 5:00pm wave of children to make gingerbread houses at the Enchanted Forest. Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

The Junior League of Greenwich’s Enchanted Forest at Christ Church features one of a kind gingerbread houses and decorated Christmas trees. Nov 17, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager