Kids intently coloring Christmas pictures. Families learning how to fold up origami angels out of colorful paper. Santa Claus himself taking photos with children on his holiday throne and giving them gifts.
This was what the inside of the Carmine Carro Community Center, 3000 Fillmore Avenue, looked like at the annual Santa in the Park event, hosted by the Marine Park Alliance (MPA) on Saturday, December 7th.
“It’s just so wonderful that they have this because, otherwise, people who can’t afford it would have to go and not have any Christmas because it’s too much for them to afford it,” Sheepshead Bay attendee Rosemary, who came with her daughter and four grandkids, said. “This is the best thing. It’s been so great; Santa is wonderful and everyone’s so nice.”
Festivities began before attendees even entered the building. Outside, two mounted Parks Department rangers welcomed visitors. The two horses, Dutch and Johnny, donned Santa hats and took photos with excited families.
Once inside, attendees colored Christmas printables, made holiday origami and Christmas cards, and cut out paper snowflakes. They also decorated cardboard headbands with colored foil tape and with an invasive, but pretty, plant that MPA volunteers had cleared from the park during the last volunteer day.
Kids were invited to play the “lollipop game” — children pulled a lollipop out of a tree-shaped stand and if the bottom of the stick was colored black, they’d win a prize in addition to the candy. There were also free snacks for guests to grab on the go.
And, of course, families waited in line to meet Santa for some photos. St. Nick even gave out Christmas elf dolls to children who visited him.
“I think it’s important because it brings people together,” Marine Park resident Emily, who attended with her daughter and J.H.S. 278 Marine Park teacher Laura Scarfogliero, said. “People who don’t get to experience Christmas or holiday stuff, I think it’s good for them to see what it’s like and see how a community like Marine Park puts an event on.”
The event is in its 31st year and is part of the MPA’s Festival of Lights event series to celebrate different multicultural holidays in December.
“It gets [attendees] to know the Marine Park Alliance and what we do,” MPA Founder and Chair Maria Carro-D’Alessandro said. “It’s not just the events, it’s taking care of the park itself.”
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