Elizabeth Huesman, right, gets an opportunity to talk with Santa.

Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Temperatures in the teens, but feeling a lot colder, didn’t dampen spirits Saturday, Nov 30,  for Chautauqua-Wawasee’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration at Oakwood Resort.

Hundreds of all ages bundled-up from head to toe for the annual event.

While some huddled inside Oakwood Hotel until it was near the time for the annual tree-lighting, many mingled around the tree greeting the volunteers dressed as snowmen, a reindeer, elf and the Grinch himself.

Two groups of carolers entertained the crowd with various Christmas songs, and Phil Metcalf, master of ceremonies kept everyone informed of what was happening.

Phil Metcalf was the master of ceremony.

Kids enjoyed wearing their glow in the dark necklaces and eagerly gathered in front of a vacation home, near the tree, used as a stage, to get a chance for a Windy Who or a Grinch doll, just before the tree lighting countdown.

Following the official lighting of the tall evergreen tree outside the hotel, the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration began. Lighted walkways led guests to cookie and hot cocoa booths, several fire pits to warm up, a photo booth where you could pick out props for a family or individual photo, or either make your own s’more or grab one that was made for you.

At the event center you could hear “The Night Before Christmas” read by an elf and then get in line to visit Santa. Heading back out to the walking path, lined with candles in decorated paper bags, you came to the live nativity scene, with carolers providing Christmas hymns. The Christmas story was read in the historical chapel

Circling on around the path back toward the entrance, a must stop for the kids was the Kids games tent, where youngsters could participate in a variety of simple games for goodies.

The next stop on the walking path of horse-drawn wagon rides, which was a delight to many with a constant line of waiting riders. The final stop on the path was an opportunity to pet Wonderland, a real reindeer. Many took the opportunity to have a photo taken with the antlered deer family member.

A large number of community sponsors and volunteers were responsible for helping put the annual event together and an evening of fun for all those who attended.

Mark your calendar for next year’s Old Fashioned Christmas, which will be Nov. 29.