Town celebrates the season
-
Emily Garbiras, 2, enjoyed meeting Santa during the Town’s Celebrate the Season in Farragut Community Center Thursday, Dec. 4. - Tammy Cheek
-
Alyssa Leicht, 10, and brother Jacob, 8, decorate cookies. - Tammy Cheek
-
“I’m eating my cookie,” Teddy Nower, 2, exclaimed after he decorated the confection at Farragut’s Celebrate the Season in Farragut Community Center Thursday, Dec. 4. Children had a chance to decorate cookies, make crafts, watch a movie and have a photo taken with Santa. - Tammy Cheek
Santa, games, crafts and a movie topped off some of the fun families enjoyed at Celebrate the Season, a Town of Farragut event occurring in Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestown Blvd., Thursday, Dec. 4.
About 250 to 300 attended the holiday event, said Rachel Malone, Town recreation and event manager.
“This will be the 32nd year for Celebrate the Season, which has always been a sweet event for families,” said Wendy Smith, Town communications manager. “But, it has evolved over the years, so it’s fun to remember what it was like before it moved from Town Hall to the Farragut Community Center.
“Part of the fun was coming into the rotunda and seeing the decorations,” Smith said “In addition to the big tree, there were garlands along the railing on the second floor, and the Farragut Middle School chorus typically performed from the second floor, filling the rotunda with carols.
“There was other entertainment in the Board Room, and I especially remember the Farragut High School madrigal singers, who performed at Celebrate the Season for several years,” she recalled. “The Bearden United Methodist Church Children’s Bell Choir was also a staple.
“At the community center, we have more space to spread out,” Smith said. “The kids really enjoy watching a movie and eating popcorn in the Assembly Hall; and this year, we tried out a hot chocolate bar, which would have been too messy for Town Hall.
“The main attractions — photos with Santa, cookie decorating and kids’ crafts — haven’t changed. That’s why so many families attend this event every year,” she added.
This year, the fun started as they entered the door, where the hot chocolate bar was located. Children could dress up their hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream and even sprinkles. Town staff and volunteers also provided popcorn for a movie the youngsters would see later.
In the large assembly room, children and families sat next to Santa for a photo opportunity.
“He comes to the event every year,” Allyson Lall said about her 11-year-old son, Max. “He loves it.”
While children waited for their turn with Santa, they had an opportunity to make a craft in the room as well.
Then, families could move over to the large classroom, where the little ones could decorate Christmas cookies. Sometimes they needed help from parents; other times, they simply wanted to eat the cookie. All the while, volunteers, such as Bill Craddick and Dot LaMarche, were on hand to provide the cookies and decorating ingredients.
The gym also was active with children playing games, such as corn hole, and writing letters to Santa. The assembly room also provided space for a holiday movie.
