![Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey explains the history of the Cochituate Gatehouse.
"The exterior is still a nice monument to remember buildings [involved in] water history," Hoey said. "We all drink lots of water, and it's such an important resource that we kind of take for granted nowadays."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2024-1200x800.jpg)
![Small Batch Baking Co., a baking company, sold cookies, marshmallows and various baked goods at the marketplace. "Small Batch Bakery is [run by] a local mom in town who is just an incredible pastry chef," Gina Anderson of MGS Group Real Estate said. "Her stuff is always something that I think draws people here."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2019-1200x800.jpg)
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the third annual Wayland Winter Holiday Market took place at Lee’s Farm from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The market was organized by Gina Anderson of MGS Group Real Estate, who came up with the idea three years ago, inspired by similar markets in other towns.
“I attended a lot of [holiday marketplaces] around MetroWest and Wellesley and Needham, and I became really friendly with the vendors.” Anderson said. “I always just thought, ‘Wow, this would be so amazing to have in our community in Wayland,’ and Lee’s Farm had done this beautiful renovation, so it just made sense that I’d host it there.”
The event featured different stands advertising items, varying from chocolate bark to jewelry. Some of the main attractions included Small Batch Baking, who were selling marshmallows and cookies, as well as the Eliza J. Norton Foundation, coming to the market for their second year.
“[Anderson] is a huge supporter of us during our Celebrate With Heart Festival in the fall, so she asks us every year to be a part of this [market], which is so nice,” Eliza J. Norton Foundation Co-Founder Julie Norton said.
The main goal of Norton’s organization is to give back to the community and help kids pay for equipment for their sports teams.
“We always try to give back to local teams or kids in need,” Norton said. “We just want kids to be involved and play the sports they want to play.”
Other stands included iDazz Custom Designs, a jewelry company, and the Creative Arts Parents Association (CAPA) coming back for their third year at the marketplace. At CAPA’s stand, they sold note cards based on paintings from Art 4 students at Wayland High School. The money made from the stand is used to pay for Wayland’s art needs.
“This is actually our third year doing [the market], so this is our third batch of cards, and they came out really well this year,” stand organizer Colleen Morneweck said.
The Wayland Boosters also set up a table, selling Wayland apparel to help fund various WHS sports teams.
“We’re very fortunate because apparel sales is our predominant fundraising initiative, and it brings in funds that lets us support the Wayland sports teams,” Treasurer Melissa Spelman said.
As the market became more popular, there’s been new vendors who’ve been interested in being a part of the event, so a waitlist had to be made.
“This [market] is as big as I can handle, so if someone can’t do it, I kind of commit to my [originals] that have started with me since day one,” Anderson said. “If they can’t do it, I’ll go to the waitlist.”
Holiday marketplaces are a great way to bring awareness to small businesses within communities. Anderson believes that anyone in Wayland should be able to attend the market, focusing on supporting its small businesses.
“A lot of marketplaces charge them to participate, and that’s not what this one’s about,” Anderson said. “It’s about giving back and sharing these amazing vendors with our community.”
