Ol’ St. Nick visits Mountain Lake on Small Business Saturday morning
It was Santa Claus (and his Elf) time in Mountain Lake this morning (Saturday, November 28). The 2015 Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Christmas Event was held at Our Hometown Café.
Santa posed for photo ops, handed out out goodie bags to children and his sidekick, Peter the Elf, took down the children’s Christmas Wish Lists. In addition, there were treats and activities for all kids. These included free books from Mountain Lake Early Childhood Initiative (ECI), snow cones made from the the freshest North Pole snow, s’mores and decorate-it-yourself cutout sugar cookies.
As well, raffle drawing was held for the Chamber’s Chamber Bucks Shopping Spree. Winners received $500 in Chamber Bucks (1st Prize), $250 in Chamber Bucks (2nd Prize), $100 in Chamber Bucks (3rd Prize) or $50 in Chamber Bucks (4th Prize). All proceeds from the raffle help to pay for community activities – such as Pow Wow.
Below is a photo gallery from the morning’s events:
SANTA CLAUS AND Peter the Elf are in Mountain Lake from the North Pole and heading out to the Mountain Lake Fire Department’s fire truck to take them to their morning of visiting with youngsters. (Photo courtesy of Sharron Hanson)
SANTA, CENTER, WITH a full lap of young visitors. At left is Aspen Stamp, and at right, is his sister, Lane Stamp.
A SPIRITED CONVERSATION between a red-and-green-antlered Mikala Jetter, left – granddaughter of Lori Puente of Our Hometown Café – and Santa Claus, right.
SANTA CLAUS CUDDLES four-week-old Annabelle Swanson in his arms as she sleeps through her first visit with Ol’ St. Nick. Annabelle is the daughter of Cody and Danni Swanson – and the granddaughter of Doug and Jackie Bristol of Mountain Lake. (Photo courtesy of Lori Puente)
SANTA’S RIGHT-HAND elf – Peter the Elf (a.k.a. Logan Hanson) made sure to jot down each of the children’s Christmas wishes on a long, long, long list.
SNOW CONES WITH the freshest, most special snow from the North Pole. Serving up the fruity-flavored frozen treat is Kalley Rempel, left. On the receiving end is Tessa Tierney, right.
S’MORES ANYONE? Roast your own marshmallow over a burner, and . . .
BRIANA LOPEZ WILL create for you a delicious s’more using a pair of fudge-striped shortbread cookies to sandwich the roasted marshmallow.
ANOTHER STOP, AND the opportunity to decorate your own cutout sugar cookie. Above, cousins cooperate to decorate a cookie. At left is Kaylee Sundve, lending a hand to her brother, Murray Sundve (being held by cousin Devyn Rempel), as he decorates his cookie with green icing – and to top it off – yellow sprinkles.
NEVAEH OTT TAKES a big chomp out of the cookie she just finished decorating.
EXCITED DESCRIBES HALI Janzen’s reaction to the new children’s books she received from the Mountain Lake Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) to add to her book shelf at home.
FRANCISCO GARZA JR. also picked up some new books from the ECI when he stopped in to visit with Santa.
HO! HO! HO! Our Hometown Café’s Gary Friesen adds to the Christmas atmosphere during Santa’s stop with his own style of Santa hat.
CHRISTMAS TUNES BEING played inspired Santa Claus, right, to “kick up his heels” along with Sharron Hanson, left, on the Our Hometown Café’s makeshift dance floor
