Gingerbread Dreams on the Eve of the Jr League of Greenwich Enchanted Forest

Old Greenwich School children got into some serious gingerbread house making in time for the Jr League of Greenwich’s 40th Enchanted Forest. The trees and gingerbread houses will be available for purchase over the weekend of Nov 18-20. Credit: Leslie Yager

At Old Greenwich School, students had a sweet time building gingerbread houses for the Junior League of Greenwich’s Enchanted Forest, which runs Friday, Nov 18 through Sunday, Nov 20 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich.

Old Greenwich School’s interim Principal Jennifer Bencivengo, who previously was Assistant Principal at North Mianus School, happens to be a chair of the Jr. League’s Enchanted Forest.

In the past she gathered children at North Mianus to make gingerbread houses for the annual Jr. League fundraiser. This year, the 40th anniversary of Enchanted Forest, Bencivengo brought the project to her new school.

Enchanted Forest draws thousands of visitors each year, and this year the event will feature beautifully decorated trees and gingerbread houses, (including the ones made at Old Greenwich School on Thursday) for purchase throughout the weekend.

Doors open on Friday at 5:00pm for the “Sneak Peek” featuring over 50 vendors for holiday shopping. The official opening of the Enchanted Forest is Saturday Nov 19 at 9:00am for Santa’s Breakfast. General admission hours at 10:00am til 4:00pm on Nov 19 and 10:00 am until 3:00pm on Nov 20.

There will be a wide selection of activities , including Breakfast with Santa with entertainment by Graham Clarke, and a children’s afternoon tea event, “Clara’s Tea.”

Other features and highlights occurring throughout the weekend include: gingerbread workshops, complimentary family entertainment by a host of local acts, choral groups, dance companies, The Children’s Giving Shop, and the Ruby Ball. Dine an dance the night away celebrating 40 years of community impact.

Funds raised from the Enchanted Forest go directly toward supporting impactful community projects that are identified, designed and implemented by the Jr. League of Greenwich.

More information about the Enchanted Forest is available on the Jr League’s website.