“You have to see it to believe it,” said CCA Executive Director Steve Bacher.

“One minute the room is quiet. Then suddenly it’s filled with hundreds of people. They sweep in like a force of nature, decorating cookies, baskets and hats, singing carols, making holiday cards. Volunteers bake the cookies in the cafeteria’s ovens, the kids put the cookies in their baskets, and inside of two hours the place is quiet again. It’s a joyful madhouse.”

Center for Community Arts announces the 11th Annual Great Cookie Exchange, Monday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Cape May Elementary School. Bring the kids and grandkids and usher in the holiday season with this joyous community holiday party! This growing community tradition is free, open to kids of all ages and the young at heart.

(Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.) You are encouraged to bring cookies to share. Santa arrives at the Great Cookie Exchange a little after 6:00, ushered through the festivities by June Willis and her caroling holiday elves. Santa will be available through the evening for photographs at a small fee of $1.00. All the other activities at the event are entirely free.

Kids can roll out dough and decorate cookies, which will be baked in the school’s ovens by volunteers and distributed at the Cookie Exchange Table. They can decorate baskets in which to take home the cookies of their choice, make and decorate holiday hats and greeting cards. A refreshment table provides milk and juice for kids and coffee and tea for the young at heart.

The Great Cookie Exchange is coming! December 5, 2005, 6-8 pm at Cape May City Elementary School. Free!