Kathleen Cooper, Broker, SRES, REALTOR®

100 DAYS OF CENTRAL MASS FEATURES CHRISTMAS

My absolute favorite holiday of the year is Christmas. Up here in Central Mass you will a lot of times find snow on the ground and lots of lights and festivities. It's a wonderful time of year to visit Oakwood Farm Christimas Barn. Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn is open yearround in Spencer, MA and if you visit their website they are already counting down to Christmas! Did you know we only have 51 days to go??

Christmas is a fun time of year, reminds me of hot cocoa and warm cookies, snowflakes and cozy fires. The shopping the preparations have already begun for much of the country. I have friends that are cracking out the decorations and wrapping up gifts.

Every year my family has a huge family party for Christmas Eve at either my grandparent's or cousin's house, but our family is growing so large that they have rented a hall this year. We draw names and exchange gifts so that no one gets left out. At the local malls you will find Santa, eager to greet children and listen to their wish-lists. Christmas is a magical time of year in New England, fun for all! Do you share in any Christmas traditions?

100 DAYS OF CENTRAL MASS FEATURES THANKSGIVING

Halloween has passed and just around the corner is Thanksgiving, one of my dad's favorite holidays. This is a good time to enjoy Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, MA. Plymouth Rock is the traditional site where William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims founded Plymouth Colony in 1620, which became the United States of America.

Here in Central Mass, we enjoy the sites of wild turkeys out in the country and lots of colorful leaves on the ground, left over from Fall. Old Sturbridge Village is open year round and is another great place to visit during this time of the year. They offer an authentic look into the past with costumes and over 40 original buildings that resemble the 19th century.

We celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones, eating turkey and watching Dallas Cowboys play football. I'm really looking forward to getting stuffed and relaxing in FL this Thanksgiving with James' family. What are your Thanksgiving traditions and favorites?

100 DAYS OF CENTRAL MASS FEATURES PATRIOTS' DAY

Patriots' Day is a civic holiday that we celebrate in Massachusetts that marks the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Re-enactments of these first battles occur annually at Lexington Green in Lexington, MA around 6AM and The Old North Bridge in Concord, MA around 9AM. On the morning of Patriots' Day, a mounted reenactor accompanied by a police escort retraces Paul Revere's ride, calling out warnings along the way.

Patriots' Day is usually observed on the Monday closest to April 19th. There is usually no school and you can be sure to catch a local parade or historic reenactment if you try.

DONUT ON A STRING CONTEST

What a ton of fun it was to watch the kids participate in a donut on a string contest. This was the first I have seen, and it was a riot! James Jr. tied for first place. Go James! Enjoy this video of my 3 sons and their good friend Sarah going to town on their donuts!

100 DAYS OF CENTRAL MASS FEATURES HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a very special holiday in New England and Central Mass. There is no shortage of festivities and events to find this time of the year. Some of the most memorable ones are trips to Salem, MA, Fright Fest at Six Flags and trick or treating in the center of town in Brookfield.

Tons of people young and old dress up as anything and everything you can think of. Tonight just happened to be Halloween and we saw some of the most creative costumes around. Some that stood out were a flying saucer costume, a Juicy Juice juice-box costume, Mario and Luigi from Mario Bros. and a very well done hand-made General Grievous costume from Star Wars.

We kicked off the holiday with some fun at Janine's Frosty in Ware where they were having a charity event. If you donated $3 per child, they would get a goody bag, pumpkin to paint and free ice cream. There was a costume contest that my friend's daughter Alyssa just happened to win with her beautiful homemade Hippie costume. There was a donut on a string eating contest that my son James Jr. tied in winning and some free face painting. We then went trick or treating around the town common and ended the night with a town wide parade. They served pizza and apple cider while they held a costume contest.

Salem, most popular for the witch trials, is a very festive place to visit during Halloween time. The streets are packed with people from all over and there is lots to do. From haunted houses to real ancient graveyards, there's always something interesting and fun to do or see. Six Flags fright fest is a spooky thrill. They have haunted mazes and dressed up ghouls. Always a good time for a thrill seeker.

The weather is usually mild. We've been very lucky the past few years with warm temperatures and no snow! What is Halloween like in your neck of the woods?