The Milford Kiwanis Club will be spreading holiday cheer with its annual Santa Party and Gingerbread House Contest, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Milford Elementary School gymnasium.
Families and kids can look forward to a fun morning filled with crafts, games, refreshments and the chance to take pictures with Santa Claus.
“As a mom myself, there is nothing better than seeing the joy on a child’s face,” said Danae Plessel, a Kiwanis member and key organizer. “Through this event, Kiwanis can do just that for many kids. From meeting Santa, receiving goodie bags, and showing off their creativity through gingerbread houses, this event is truly all about them.”
The Santa Party has grown throughout the years, with a turnout of 120 children attending in previous years. The Kiwanis Club hopes to maintain and possibly even surpass that number this year.
In addition to meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, children and their families can enjoy a variety of activities, including five to six different crafts. This year, a new guessing jar game has been added, where kids can win Christmas candy.
The highlight of the event is the Gingerbread House Contest, open to all ages from preschool to adults. Participants can drop off their edible masterpieces at the elementary gym on Friday, Dec. 6, between 3 and 6 p.m.
Gingerbread houses must be made of all edible materials, with the main structure consisting of gingerbread, Pop-Tarts, or graham crackers.
Winners will be announced during the event, with first, second and third place prizes awarded in each division. The judges remain a mystery, even to Kiwanis members. One member finds two people from the community to judge, never the same people.
The Santa Party is made possible through partnerships with local schools and businesses. Milford Elementary provides the gym space, stage and equipment. Local businesses like This and That Rentals and Card My Yard contribute essential items for the event.
“Our club has multiple amazing, selfless individuals that are willing to help out. It is definitely a team effort with every event we have,” Plessel said. “Anyone and everyone is welcome to join our club. We meet at noon every Friday at Pizza Kitchen, and volunteers can also contact us via email or our Facebook page.”
The Milford Kiwanis Club hosts community events throughout the year, including the National Day of Prayer breakfast, pancake feeds, pool parties and trivia nights. Funding for the Santa Party starts within the club.
Members donate their time to bake the cookies and money to purchase crafts and items for the goodie bags. The rest is raised through the various fundraisers the Kiwanis hold throughout the year, making sure the event remains free for all attendees.
