See Santa and Horses at Winter Holiday Festival

The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable (FLSS) will present their 17th Annual Holiday Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival will take place at the Somerset County Park Commission Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge.

Hayrides through the woods to see Santa at his house will be offered for children (weather permitting).

Santa’s Workshop will be open for games, craft projects, food, and more. Free pony rides will be available at various times throughout the Festival.

Adults can explore the offerings at the annual Silent Auction, which benefits the Lord Stirling School Horse Retirement Fund, another FLSS initiative. Themed gift baskets, specialty items, and gift certificates for local businesses will vie for bidders’ attention. The FLSS gift shop will offer unique items for purchase.

In conjunction with the festivities, guests can watch the Winter Holiday Horse Shows that provide Lord Stirling students the opportunity to showcase the horsemanship skills they have learned in class. Horse shows begin at 9 a.m. each day.

The Junior Drill Team performs on Saturday and the Adult Drill Team is featured on Sunday, both during the lunch break. Spectators can watch the shows from the climate controlled viewing area.

Admission and parking are free.

Friends of Lord Stirling Stable is a 501(c) (3) organization of youth and adult volunteers working with the Somerset County Park Commission to support the activities of Lord Stirling Stable through contribution of ideas, time, and revenue.Information about other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet a twww.somersetcountyparks.org .

(Photo: A family enjoys a visit to Santa’s Workshop at the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable Winter Holiday Festival.)