#pinehaven.event004

winter   is   upon   us,   pinehaveners!   locals   know   what   that   means,   Pinehaven's   Annual   Season   of   Lights!   for   about   two   weeks   each   december,   pinehaven   has   a   holiday   festival   of   sorts.   the   air   is   cold   and   windy;   snow   falls   at   least   once   a   week,   piling   up   inch   after   inch;   everyone   seems   to   be   in   a   better   mood   with   gift-giving   right   around   the   corner;   and   children   are   on   their   best   behavior   so   that   they   don't   end   up   on   the   naughty   list!   …we   wish   we   could   say   the   same   for   some   adults,   wink   wink.

the   town   square   is   where   the   main   events   happen!   should   you   feel   like   getting   into   the   holiday   spirit,   here's   what   you   can   expect   during   the   festivities   ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

╰┈➤   an   ice   skating   rink;   children   love   this!   adults   do   too.   it's   free   to   skate,   but   remember   to   bundle   up   in   case   you   fall!

╰┈➤   designated   sledding   hills;   though   you   could   do   this   on   any   hill   in   pinehaven,   these   hills   have   people   watching   over   them   in   case   of   any   mishaps.   sleds   are   provided   by   the   recreation   center,   and   there   are   even   some   tubes   for   tubing   if   that's   more   your   style

╰┈➤   nutcracker   ballet   performances;   pinehaven   learning   center's   very   own   ballet   teacher,   serena   carlisle,   has   the   little   ones   perform   a   nutcracker   ballet   during   each   saturday   of   the   event!   if   you   miss   the   first,   you   can   always   catch   the   second.   these   performances   will   take   place   on   the   20th   and   27th   of   december,   so   be   sure   to   snatch   a   ticket   -   they   sell   out   fast!   tickets   are   $5   and   go   toward   the   betterment   of   the   learning   center.   rumor   has   it   that   serena   runs   her   ballet   classes   like   the   military,   so   you're   sure   to   witness   a   beautiful   show   if   you   attend!

╰┈➤   a   christmas   market   set   up   in   town;   this   will   include   booths   and   vendors   from   the   various   pinehaven   shops,   fresh   food   made   on   the   spot,   and   a   fudge-making   stand   where   you   can   add   your   own   toppings   and   flavors   to   your   very   own   batch   of   fudge

╰┈➤   a   christmas   tree   lighting   ceremony;   this   will   take   place   on   friday,   december   19th.   everyone   gathers   in   the   town   square   to   help   decorate   and   light   the   pinehaven   christmas   tree!   it's   a   local   favorite,   plus   there   will   be   a   free   feast   thrown   at   loulou's   diner   afterward

╰┈➤   santa   in   the   square;   nightly   from   5-8   p.m.,   kids   can   go   to   the   town   square   to   see   and   talk   to   santa!   children   can   pose   for   an   optional   photo   op,   and   make   sure   they   bring   their   letters   to   santa   -   they   can   drop   them   in   a   big,   red   letterbox   and   they   might   just   get   their   wishes   fulfilled!

╰┈➤   snowman   competition;   all   in   good   fun,   there   will   be   a   snowman   competition   each   day   at   noon   on   the   whitman   dairy   farm.   since   kids   are   currently   out   of   school   to   enjoy   their   winter   break,   this   is   a   great   way   to   let   them   expend   some   energy   by   running   around   in   the   snow   and   building   snowmen!   the   maker   of   the   winning   snowman   each   day   gets   their   pick   of   3   prizes:   $100,   a   $50   gift   certificate   to   sage   &   stone,   or   a   whitman-branded   stuffed   animal   modeled   after   betsy   the   cow!

╰┈➤   dying   december   concert;   in   town   for   an   indeterminate   amount   of   time,   pinehaven's   very   own   hometown   rockstar   beau   spencer   and   his   band,   dying   december,   will   be   putting   on   a   one-night-only   concert   at   mitsy's   dance   hall.   free   for   locals   who   present   their   i.d.   with   a   local   pinehaven   address,   and   only   $20   for   out-of-towners,   this   is   one   concert   you're   not   going   to   wanna   miss.   they'll   be   playing   a   mix   of   holiday   song   covers   and   their   own   rockin'   hits,   so   make   sure   you're   there   on   december   21st!

╰┈➤   last   but   certainly   not   least:   a   send   off   to   2025;   gather   in   the   town   square   on   december   28th   to   witness   a   fireworks   spectacle.   the   mayor   will   give   a   speech   beforehand,   and   everyone   will   be   given   sparklers   to   participate   in   the   show   with!   say   goodbye   to   this   year   and   hello   to   2026   with   some   champagne   (sparkling   grape   juice   for   the   little   ones),   cake   pops   from   the   honey   pot,   and   many   more   delicious   drinks   and   treats!

that's   all,   folks!   with   the   holidays   fast   approaching   and   the   spirit   of   giving,   love,   and   joy   all   around   us,   this   is   a   2-week   event   jam-packed   with   fun   activities   that   you'll   definitely   want   to   take   part   in.   join   your   fellow   friends   and   family   members   and   celebrate   the   joy   of   the   Season   of   Lights!

Growing up in snowy Canada meant things like sledding had never really fazed Knox. It was second nature after all this time. Skiing was trickier though, and not something he pushed anymore, not after the injury. The last thing he needed was to test his limits and make the pain worse. Sledding was safe and manageable. Knox hadn't planned on riding tonight, though. He had volunteered to help instead by steadying sleds and making sure kids and overly ambitious adults got down the hill in one piece. Safety first, but fun a close second.

As dinnertime rolled around, the line thinned. People drifted off toward warmth and food, and the hill went quiet for a few minutes. Knox was busy leveling out the starting spots when his gaze lifted, then stalled. Dimitri. If Knox’s cheeks and ears hadn't already been pink from the cold, they definitely were now. Something about the guy always caught his attention, and every time their paths crossed, Knox felt that familiar flutter settle in his chest. It didn't help that he was painfully attractive. Knox wasn't the most talkative person to begin with, but there were very few people who made him shy. Dimitri was one of them.

"Having fun?" Knox called out, unwilling to let him pass by without saying something. Whether Dimitri would have stopped on his own or not, Knox didn’t let himself wonder. He gestured up the hill with a tilt of his chin. "If you feel like taking a ride, now's the time. It's basically your own private slope." Then, because his competitive streak couldn't be smothered, he added with a faint grin tugging at his mouth. "We could race. If you’re up for it..." his brown eyes twinkled as he finished the dare. "And you aren't afraid of losing."

⸻ The twins were awake inside of the pram, and she was curious to see a snowman competition. She didn't want to participate; she was there only to look at them. It was good hanging with somebody that isn't her uncle, or her newborn's ish, or her boss. ❛ I… Kind of have a question for you… Juni. ❜ She says hesitantly, about what she was about to ask. Juni was her friend, and it was one of the people she felt rather comfortable around her to talk about everything.

⸻ It was night, and Bella was exhausted. She had a long day at work, and she knew she had another job, which was being a full-time mother of twin babies. The duo was only three months old, Louise was asleep in the pram, and Leon was wide awake on her arms, hiccuping, fascinated with the lights decoration. And she was only strolling, observing the things for sale in the Christmas market. She bought a hot cocoa for herself in one of the stalls. She did not see the person near her when she went to push the stroller with one hand, while the other held her son. ❛ Ohh, I'm sorry! ❜ She gave the other woman an apologetic look, her mind wandering to the absurd idea of using toothpicks to pin her eyes open against the crushing weight of exhaustion.

"Juni!" Ollie spotted her from across the market and didn't hesitate, weaving his way over as the Santa hat perched atop his curls slipped slightly off-center. "Perfect timing," he declared, grin already in place. "Wanna check this place out together? I need someone with a good eye for little trinket gifts, and someone who will physically stop me from buying every single thing I see."

He lowered his voice conspiratorially, nodding toward a nearby stall. “Especially if we wander anywhere near the fudge booth. I can't be held responsible there. I'm starting to think that they have got me personally targeted. But I'll buy drinks if you indulge me. I don’t know if they have that peppermint joy explosion... snowburst? Elf magic in a cup? I can't remember, but whatever it was you had the other day, but I'm betting they've got something equally delicious."

With a friendly, hopeful smile, Ollie offered his arm. "So… what do you say?"

After all these years, one would think Ollie might finally understand the full plot of The Nutcracker, but somehow it still managed to baffle him every single time. Mice, nutcrackers, sugar plum fairies... how it all connected remained a mystery. Still, he loved it. The music, the lights, the magic of it. His sister had been deep into ballet when they were kids, and watching the performance always brought back memories of sitting in drafty auditoriums, waiting for her to spot him in the crowd.

With the cold biting at his fingers, Ollie had armed himself appropriately with a large bucket of popcorn and a steaming cup of cocoa clutched close for warmth. He slid into a seat beside Emilio, and shot him a beaming grin. "Hey, bud," he greeted quietly but cheerfully, tipping the popcorn toward him in offering. "How's it going? You enjoying the festivities so far?"

Ollie popped a few kernels into his mouth, grinning as he chewed. To not be rude, he waited until swallowing before yammering on. "Are some of your kiddos in this? Maybe you can explain the plot to me because I swear I just get more confused every year. I'll pay you back in popcorn. There's no way I'm eating this whole thing by myself. I have to save room for fudge later."

The tree-lighting ceremony was one of Ollie's favorite parts of the entire Season of Lights. He'd gathered so many fond memories of it over the years; the cold air, glowing bulbs, and that quiet, collective hush right before the lights flicked on. Soon enough, the town's tree would shine in full brilliance, drawing gasps of awe and wonder from everyone gathered around. It made him feel like a kid again, which honestly wasn’t much of a stretch for Ollie on any given day.

He was more than happy to help decorate, especially when some of the younger kids needed assistance reaching their chosen branches. Sometimes he bent the limbs down for them; other times, he let them climb onto his back or shoulders so they could carefully place their ornaments themselves. Their laughter alone made the effort worth it.

Just as he lowered one of the local kids back onto their feet, Ollie caught sight of Dimitri nearby and made his way over with a bright grin. "Hey, man! Happy holidays!" he greeted, sidling up beside him as they watched the rest of the volunteers bustle around the tree. "Almost time for them to light this baby up." He bumped Dimitri lightly with his elbow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You planning on hitting up LouLou’s after for that free dinner, or are you stuck helping cook it?"