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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Every year, members of the Medfield community gather in the high school’s cafeteria for a spaghetti dinner, hosted by the Medfield Music Association (MMA). The pasta-filled evening always features performances from the school’s music groups and a visit from a special guest: Santa Claus.
The “Spaghetti with Santa” dinner is an annual tradition among Medfield families. This year at the 44 annual “Spaghetti with Santa” on December 6, 500 people were in attendance to support Medfield’s music programs.
Medfield chorus students entertain the pasta diners at the annual ‘Spaghetti with Santa’ to benefit Medfield Public Schools’ music program.
The proceeds from the dinner itself, as well as money raised from raffle tickets, a bake sale, and photos with Santa, go to benefit Medfield Public Schools’ kindergarten through grade 12 music programs on behalf of the MMA.
“It sells out basically every year,” said Christine “Chris” McCue, president of the MMA, who has been helping to organize the event for the past seven years. “It’s an intergenerational thing, too. We have people who were coming when they were children, and now they’re here with their own kids. I had a couple in Florida email me back in October because they wanted to get tickets to come and surprise their grandkids.”
The Fuller family enjoys a spaghetti dinner at Medfield’s ‘Spaghetti with Santa’ event.
The cafeteria filled with families as they found seats together and with friends. Volunteer students served spaghetti with a homemade tomato sauce, meatballs, and rolls to those in attendance as the diners enjoyed Medfield students singing Christmas carols and holiday tunes.
Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrived to greet the carb-fueled children, who were dancing to the chorus’s songs. Along with the North-Pole-based couple were some frosty friends, including a couple of deer and the snow queen, who visited each table and thanked their guests for joining them.
“This year we wanted to make it a bit more inclusive, so we added the tagline of Santa and friends,” explained Chris. “It just brings out a bigger crowd and makes it a little more eclectic, too.”
With Hoodsie Cups making their way to the tables for a tasty dessert, the pasta-eating patrons were sure to have another fantastic year celebrating the holidays with the MMA and their community.
Members of the Medfield community finish eating a spaghetti dinner before Santa makes a special visit to Medfield High School from the North Pole.
