Santa stops by at annual breakfast for local children
WAYNESBURG — The big man in the red suit stopped in Waynesburg on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the annual “Breakfast with Santa.”
The event was held by the Greene County commissioners and the Department of Recreation in the Greene County Fairgrounds’ 4H Building. More than 80 local children attended the event, all who had the opportunity to sit with Santa Claus, discuss their Christmas lists with him and have their pictures taken. Mrs. Claus was also on hand to assist Santa with the guests.
Each child received a Santa Helper Hat, a special treat from Santa and a bag of reindeer food to help guide his sleigh team on Christmas Eve.
Other activities included cookie decorating and a cookie Christmas ornament craft.
The breakfast foods that were at the event were provided by the Greene County Career and Technology Center.
Culinary art instructor Dan Wagner, who made the food along with three students from the culinary program, said he was proud of his students and felt that they did a great job with the event. Wagner has been helping with the event for five years.
“It takes time in planning, in the sense of the menu and working with the county when we can show up and work, and we also have four great students here today preparing the food,” Wagner said.
Director of Parks and Recreation Jake Blaker hosted the event at the fairgrounds and said he loves to see the children come out and have an enjoyable time.
“The kids love to see Santa Claus come out,” Blaker said. “They get a good breakfast — Mom and Dad are there, brothers and sisters are there … it just makes for a real nice morning. Then they can leave here and go up town to the Christmas Parade. It’s just a nice start to the season.”
After having breakfast with the children, Santa took off to the annual Waynesburg Christmas Parade from 2 to 4 p.m. to spread more holiday cheer.
Available again this year, the children had the opportunity to write letters to Santa and place them in the Department of Recreation’s “Official North Pole Mail” mailbox that was on display at the breakfast. More than 100 letters have been received, and the department’s elves will bundle all letters and ship them straight to Santa.
The Department of Recreation wishes to thank Santa and Mrs. Claus, Chef Dan Wagner and students of the Greene County Career & Technology Center, and everyone who attended.
(Additional information for this article provided by the county’s Dept. of Recreation.)