By NICOLE GUGINO
OBSERVER Assistant News Editor
SILVER CREEK - There are very few things children anticipate more than Santa's arrival. On Saturday, local children in Silver Creek got to see good old St. Nick a couple weeks early.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino
A horse-drawn carriage jingled its way through the village park at Christmas in the Park in Silver Creek Saturday.
Christmas in the Park is a Silver Creek tradition sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Silver Creek.
Kiwanis members Matt and Karen Bogosian have hosted Santa at the Backline Teen Dance Club since 1997.
According to Matt, it is his and his wife's favorite event all year.
"Of all the fun events we host here at the Backline throughout the year this is the event we look forward to the most. When Santa arrives by fire truck you can feel the children's excitement," he said.
In addition to Christmas in the Park, the Kiwanis Club of Silver Creek also hosts a Halloween party and Easter egg hunt at the Backline.
Matt said although Santa didn't arrive until noon the crowd of children and their parents started lining up as early as 11 a.m.
"The kids line up early every year. They have had a lot of fun ideas they would like for Christmas. One boy asked Santa for two TVs and Santa said 'What about just one?' It is our favorite thing all year, it is just so great seeing the kids so happy," Karen said.
In addition to seeing Santa, children were able to pet a real reindeer, "Dancer," owned by Mike Morton. Matt said Morton has been bringing a reindeer to Christmas in the Park since the beginning.
The village park was decorated with lights and a Christmas tree in the gazebo. White horses were also dressed up for the occasion in jingle bells as they pulled a carriage through the park.
Inside the Backline children were able to do more than just sit on Santa's lap. The Silver Creek Key Club helped children as they decorated cookies, got their faces painted and colored a T-shirt. Matt described the Key Club members as doing the "day-of leg work."
Silver Creek Key Club Adviser Bridget Case said the Key Club has a lot of fun at the event each year.
The Bogosians thanked Stitchez Unlimited for donating the T-shirts for decorating, Petri's Baking Products for donating the cookies and Rite-Aid for donating the candy canes in the goody bags children got from Mrs. Claus.
"Even though this is a Kiwanis Club event the whole community chips in to help make it great each year," Karen added.
Comments on this article may be sent to ngugino@observertoday.com
