Clinton Nature Center’s Deck the Trails lights up Dec. 18-20

By Cara Pridemore

The Clinton Community Nature Center’s annual “Deck the Trails” event continues December 18 through 20, from 5 until 8 p.m. each night. Each night will have a different theme, with a variety of vendors, activities, themed crafts and experiences for families, including caroling led by various school choirs. Tickets are $7 for nonmembers and $5 for members.

“The main feature is our trail that’s lit up with holiday lights,” sad Sabrina Hagerman, the co-director of the Nature Center. “This year, we have three main sections of the trail, each with a different theme.”

Several years ago, Joshua Welch, the owner of the Froghead Grill and a Nature Center board member, started the idea of “Deck the Trails,” encouraging his employees to set up Christmas lights at the Nature Center and provide hot chocolate. Although the setup and planning aspect has become the Nature Center directors’ responsibilities, Welch still provides hot chocolate every year.

“It’s grown,” Hagerman said. “We use different trails different years. Of course, we have different volunteers, so we have different ways of displaying the lights. Different choirs participate. We’ve expanded the number of nights and added some themes. We just try to keep it funand a little bit different each time.”

New experiences and themes this year include a pet-friendly night, a Christmas pajama night, an ugly sweater karaoke night, a night with Disney characters, and a night with a Santa photo opportunity.

Proceeds go toward the center’s operational budget to keep the grounds maintained and the community engaged.

“The twinkling lights are just magical, and underneath the beautiful canopy of the forest and seeing all the smiles and having the warm drinks – it all just creates a lovely warm feeling,” said Hagerman.