LINWOOD — The community came together to celebrate the holidays Dec. 7 at the Linwood Arboretum, where horse-drawn carriages were coming and going, hot chocolate was flowing and Santa Claus was ho, ho, ho-ing.
Park Director Tim Donovan and the volunteers from the Linwood Board of Recreation joined with Giggie Butrus and the Friends of the Linwood Arboretum to host a family festival full of fun for all.
Hundreds gathered as the Mainland Regional High School Band played everybody’s favorite carols. The young musicians’ winter concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 21 in the auditorium. (See story in this edition.)
“I thought the event was a success. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves,” Donovan said. “The weather was perfect for that type of event — cold but not too cold.”
He said Miller’s Lawn Care decorated the arboretum property with colorful lights in the bushes and trees. Something amazing was around every corner while strolling the foliage-lined paths, with here and there a bench for resting or a photo op.
Belhaven Middle School seventh-graders Maggie Ryon, Emer Donohue, Luna Blanco and Charlotte Coon gathered inside a train engine, while the Rocco, Carpenter and McConville families posed in front of a tall tree decked out in white lights.
Mayor Darren Matik kicked off the ceremony with a rousing speech and lit the tree, finally freeing everyone to run for the artificial ice rink, where fifth-grader Lily Cowhey, 10, was showing the boys how it’s done.
Carolers were caroling as families lined up to catch a ride on one of two horse-drawn carriages, while others jumped aboard the bike path express train.
A pint-sized snowman standing sentinel amid a blizzard of confetti was a popular attraction, drawing a great big smile from 5-year-old Willow Funk.
Inside Santa’s Workshop was the Jolly Old Elf himself. Lyaysan Petreski waited while her children, Daniel, 6, and Sofia, 3, told Santa what was on their wish list.
Hard to miss was Jennifer Graf, decked out in her elf costume. She is the owner of Olde Towne Carolers, who were making merry over by the carriage rides.
Members of the Linwood fire department provided Santa a lift so he could meet all of the children, making a grand entrance to the party. The Linwood Police Department provided security.
Among the popular attractions was a mechanical reindeer, similar to a mechanical bull but not nearly as wild.
“The mechanical reindeer was a big hit this year and, of course, Santa did his thing, which never disappoints,” Donovan said.
Nobil Food Service provided cookies and hot chocolate, which were free to guests and reporters.
Donovan said the event could not have been such a success if not for the efforts of Board of Recreation President Tim Longnecker’s “time, energy and thoughtfulness in planning this event.”
He estimated that about 500 people attended, possibly more throughout the three-hour event.
“Santa handed out around 240 candy canes and we went through 600 cookies. Like me, most people had more than one cookie though,” Donovan said, adding that plans already are in the works for Easter and Memorial Day celebrations.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff