A highlight event of Saturday’s Mill Village Christmas will be the building of gingerbread houses. It will be taking place from 10 a.m. till noon and is for youngsters ages three and up.

“Everything will be provided for you,” said Valley Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Blount. “All you need is to bring your own creativity.”

There’s a cost of $5 per house.

Weather won’t be a problem for the participants since it will be taking place inside the heated tent that’s being provided by Jackson Heating & Air.

This is the second year for the Christmas Mill Village. It’s a joint effort on the part of the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Valley Parks and Recreation and takes place at the Christmas Merry Go Round in the Langdale tennis court area.

This year’s first session took place last Saturday, the second one is set for tomorrow with the third and final one taking place on Saturday, Dec. 16.

The hours for the Christmas Mill Village are from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. The merry go round runs from 5 to 9 p.m. EST on Mondays through Fridays, 10-9 on Saturdays and  1-5 on Sundays. It closes for the year at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24.

Vendors from the local area will be on hand to showcase and sell their items on the Christmas Mill Village Saturdays. Among the items available are Paparazzi jewelry, quilts, crafts, cutlery, Tupperware, recycled wood, crocheting and knitting items, homemade soap, bath balms and lotions, barbecue sauce and other barbecue items.

Merry Go Round commemorative items will also be on sale. Long sleeve t-shirts for both youth and adults are $15 each;  short-sleeve ones are $12 each. Sixtieth anniversary ornaments are $12 each,

The Christmas Merry Go Round is a local tradition that goes back to 1956. The Langdale Nativity began in the late 1940s and the Madonna and Christ Child  started in 1961.

“It’s a tradition we are proud to continue,” said Blount. “Some people have ridden the Merry Go Round every year since it started in 1956. Some people who grew up here and loved to ride it as children come back from long  distances away just to ride it in another Christmas season, many times with children and grandchildren. The Merry Go Round is a unique Christmas gift to the community that continues on, and anyone with ties to the Valley should come back to ride it each year.”