BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Clarkston Family Farm invites the community to join them for holiday fun during Christmas at the Farm on Saturday, Dec. 4, 3-7 p.m.
“It’s a lot of fun and families enjoy it,” said Chelsea O’Brien, founder and executive director. “We also felt it is a wonderful way to celebrate and give back to the community. Everybody loves coming out to the farm and everything is so beautiful during this time of year.”
The event includes a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, free crafts for kids, caroling from 4-5:30 p.m. and more.
“Bring a note to Santa if you want,” O’Brien encouraged. “We will be offering smores and will have bonfires. The Boy Scouts are helping us with that activity as a fundraiser for some Eagle Scout projects coming up in the spring. It’s nice you get to support the Boy Scouts too by coming to the event.”
Visitors can also do holiday shopping as local vendors will be in the heated hoophouse with many gift options.
Vendors include Hope for Life, Mama and Mini, Dogs Love It, Nancy’s DoTerra Oils, Doshi Candle Company, HBI by Dale, The Feminie Farmer, Big Dog Salsa, Buzzworthy Farms, Artist Meagan Lipke, Hundred Fables, Three Dog Stitches, and The Flour Shop.
Mama and Mini and Dogs Love It are students from Clarkston Community Schools and Lipke is a teacher in the district selling some of her hand crafted mugs.

“Lots of gift purchasing opportunities,” O’Brien said. “I am so excited. It’s going to be a blast.”
The Sunflower Market will also be open during the event.
O’Brien shared they enjoyed doing their Christmas at the Farm event in 2019.
“It was very well attended,” she said. “Santa and Mrs. Claus came. We had a lot of local vendors. It was fun themed farmer’s market. We knew we wanted to continue. But then COVID really changed the way we thought about the holidays and how important it was to have an element of giving and how we need to be thinking deeply about families who are struggling during this time.”
It was then Clarkston Family Farm created Holiday Harvest Gift Baskets for families in need and the baskets are back this year and will be delivered during the Christmas at the Farm event.
“This year we wanted to make sure we kept the Holiday Harvest Gift Baskets,” O’Brien said. “The basket was all we did last year and it had such an impact. I felt like if we did nothing else, we have to do the Holiday Harvest Gift Baskets again.”
O’Brien added they have been working diligently for a month collecting from different donations from local businesses and local vendors.
“Lots of local vendors have been donating produce and bath and body products and of course the farm donates $50 worth of our farm goods,” she said. “These baskets end up being over $100 for each basket and we are giving away 50 of them. also has gifts for kids. artisan goods. They are really going to be special. The baskets are amazing this year.”
O’Brien explained they worked with area churches like Clarkston Community Church, Waypoint Church and Clarkston United Methodist Church to find families who could use a holiday basket.
“They have all helped by saying ‘I’ve got these five families and they are really hurting,'” O’Brien said, adding they customizing the baskets for specific needs.
Clarkston Family Farm has 25 holiday elves who are National Honor Society students, Boy Scouts, friends of the farm who have reached out and offered to deliver the baskets.
“It is the most special part of our Christmas event because that’s what Christmas is about – giving and sharing what you have with others, spreading joy,” O’Brien said. “We’ve also had families also given and businesses have matched which allows us to give all these wonderful things to families who could use the help.”
Community partners helping by donating to the Holiday Harvest Gift Baskets include: Rudy’s Market, Neiman’s Family Market, Ace Hardware of Clarkston, Clarkston Dance team, Troop 199, Doshi Candle Company, Kairos Farm, Red Bird Farm, Urban Vine, Essence on Main, Shaded Bloom Coffee, Brioni’s Cafe, Polk Around Farm, Office Depot of Clarkston, Nancy’s DoTerra Oils, SMS JOI Club, Howard Hanna, Thyme in a Bottle, MSU Credit Union, Beyond the Kitchen Door, Simply Gourmet and Three Dog Stitches.
“It’s going to be a fantastic day,” O’Brien said. “It’s such a positive day with a lot of joy. I hope a lot come. What’s most important is the giving.”
Clarkston Family Farm is located 6800 Hubbard Road.
For more information, visit clarkstonfamilyfarm.com or find them on Facebook at Clarkston Family Farm.