Cookie decorating the focus of Free Family Saturday

MOSES LAKE — ’Tis the season for all kinds of sweet treats, and this month’s Free Family Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center continues that tradition, decorating gingerbread cookies. 

“It’s our annual December event,” said Creative Programs coordinator Jenni Shelton. “We’ve done gingerbread cookies for, I think, the fifth year.” 

It’s also one of the most popular Free Family Saturday events, Shelton said, drawing 150-200 participants. Most of the cookie artists are children, she said, but parents are welcome to join in too, and many do. 

The museum supplies all the materials and even handles cleanup. 

“That’s the fun thing about us,” Shelton said. “You get to make the mess here, and we take care of it. We have a great team of volunteers.” 

The day may even include a special guest appearance by Rusty Mammoth Santa, according to an announcement from the museum. 

The cookies are soft gingerbread, Shelton said. One side is already iced, but the other is a blank canvas just waiting for a little sugary enhancement. 

As the name would suggest, the whole thing is free, including all the materials, but the city requires that families register. It’s a simple process that can be done easily online, Shelton said. For those who show up on the spot, there’s a paper form to fill out. Families that register can get a year-long free pass, according to the museum’s announcement. 

Free Family Saturday is held on the first Saturday of every month from noon to 2 p.m., according to the announcement. Funding comes from donations and support from museum members. 

“Lots of people donate a little bit extra with their museum memberships,” Shelton said. 

Once the cookies are decorated, participants are welcome to take them home to eat. 

“If they make it home,” Shelton said. “I don’t think they often leave the building. They’re quite tasty.”