Brooksby Farm to hold holiday open house

PEABODY-Brooksby Farm will open its doors to the community this weekend, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., for what farm store manager JoAnne Roden promises to be a great time.There will be all sorts of fun and holiday activities fit for the entire family. Children can enjoy a hayride through parts of the 275-acre property, but make sure they?re bundled-up in their hats and gloves, as this weekend looks to be a cold one.Once the ride comes to an end, children can head inside to test their skills as a pastry chef by decorating their own Christmas cookies. Every child can also participate in a coloring contest, with a surprise grand prize.As for the adults, the store will offer a sampling of some of their favorites from jams and marmalades to salsas and mustards. And a sampling at Brooksby Farm just wouldn?t be complete without slivers of their signature pies, so there will be plenty of those too.Complimentary hot cider and hot cocoa will also be available.Eating isn?t the only activity for adults. They can also shop for small gift baskets, ornaments, and candles, or have a wreath personally decorated following a color theme of their choice.?There will be people here decorating,” said Roden. “If anyone has anything particular they want?we?ll specialize them.”If there?s one last thing to do together as a family before heading home, it?s picking out a real Christmas tree from the farm?s tree yard.Brooksby Farm has been holding their holiday open house for close to eight years, said Roden, who thinks it?s a perfect way “to slow down the pace of the holiday season and enjoy what we have up here.”After all, isn?t that what the holiday season is all about?