Ben’s Lighthouse, the hosts of the second annual Lighthouse Festival, is pleased to announce Sara Hoagland Hunter, author of Lighthouse Santa, will be a special guest for this year’s festival.

Ms Hunter’s book, with gorgeous illustrations by Julia Miner, is based on the real-life exploits of Edward Rowe Snow, who delivered Christmas presents to lighthouse keepers’ children for almost fifty years.

The Lighthouse Festival, themed “Safe Harbors,” will take place on Saturday, June 14, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street. The festival runs from 10 am to 4 pm and is open to all.  Admission is free.

Lighthouse Santa tells the story from the point of view of Kate, who lives at the Great Point Lighthouse on Nantucket Island with only her mother, father and brother to keep her company. Kate anxiously awaits Christmas Eve, but a blizzard threatens to ruin the special day and her secret Christmas wish. She waits for the Lighthouse Santa to drop presents from his airplane, but will he make it this year through the hurricane winds and blinding snow? Kate must cling to her father’s promise that “Nothing is impossible on Christmas Eve in a lighthouse.”

Ms Hunter will offer several readings of her book throughout the day and will be available to sign copies, answer questions, and talk to children about Mr Snow and the life of children growing up in lighthouses.

The Lighthouse Festival will bring back many of the activities and presentations that thrilled children and families last year, including the custom 20-foot tall interactive lighthouse that will return to the front lawn of the church for the special event, along with representatives from the US Coast Guard, a building activity from The Eli Whitney Museum, the Maritime Museum Touch Tank, Goldfish crackers from Pepperidge Farm, and more.

In addition, many new activities including a shipwright’s demonstration and knot-tying lessons will be new this year.

Visit BensLighthouse.org for a schedule of the day’s events and additional information about Ben’s Lighthouse.