The Jaffrey Historical Society and the Jaffrey Civic Center are partnering to present a Christmas Village created by Jaffrey resident Peter Lambert, on display at the Civic Center from Nov. 19 through Dec. 20.
The 128-square-foot display portrays the fictional town of Piscaquoddymoggin, New Hampshire, featuring coastal seaport, mountain, and rural farm scenes. Hundreds of miniature villagers prepare for the holiday season as skiers, fishermen, schoolchildren, and farm animals go about their routines. A Christmas parade marches down Main Street, the town tree is being decorated, and ice skaters waltz to tunes from a Salvation Army band. Hidden surprises throughout the display include a sasquatch, a curious whale, a sheepish sauna-goer, and characters from classic holiday movies and TV specials.
A new addition this year is a 32-square-foot scene depicting the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Visitors can watch Santa, his elves, and his reindeer make final preparations for the annual worldwide flight. The Polar Express steams through North Pole Square, an elf in a hot-air balloon keeps tabs on who’s naughty and nice, and a group of lost penguins wander about.
This year’s village is twice as large as last year’s and is the culmination of six months of work by Lambert. “I started a small village about 20 years ago,” said Lambert. “I started enlarging it in 2014 after my nephews were born, and it expanded exponentially during Covid.”
Every year his nephews requested specific additions to the village. Unable to fit this enormous display in his house, he showed off a version at the Jaffrey Historical Society last year. This year, though still sponsored by the historical society, it will be on display in the handicapped-accessible Cunningham Gallery on the second floor of the Civic Center.
School groups are welcome. The village will be on display through Dec. 20 during normal Civic Center hours: Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is also open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.
Extended hours will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, through 5 p.m. It is free of charge.