Mistletoe will provide sweet projects for holiday visitors

Christmastime conjures up memories of trees, twinkling lights and gingerbread houses. Whether you are young or old, creating a winter wonderland from an assortment of candies is like putting the finishing touches on the holiday season.

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This year, volunteers at Mistletoe State Park are inviting visitors to step out of the gingerbread box with a different type of holiday decoration.

Participants will gather at 11 a.m. Dec. 12, at the beach house and create edible campgrounds, complete with tents and RVs. Or they can try their hand at a log cabin or a boat on a blue icing lake.

"We'll have graham crackers that folks can use to build structures, with icing to use as glue," said senior Corps project Director Marilyn Grau. "Then we'll have lots of cookies and candies that can be used to bring the basic shapes to life. For example, Tootsie Rolls and pretzel sticks can be used for logs -- log cabins, split rail fences or campfire wood -- and green gummy candies can be used for bushes, etc."

Previous events have found participants creating outhouses, a lake with boats and a tent with feet sticking out of the opening.

"It won't really be a competition, because each of us knows already that ours is going to be the best," Grau said. "So, we'll have refreshments and work and maybe even hum to some Christmas music to get us in the holiday spirit. It'll just be a fun way to spend a morning and an interesting activity folks can do with family or friends."

Registration is required by Saturday and there is a $3 supply fee. Participants may bring their own decorations but are urged to bring enough for everyone if they do so.

For more information, call the park office at (706) 541-0321.