Kids Get Creative at Santa’s Workshop

Marco Island’s Parks and Recreation Staff continue to entertain youngsters on the island during this special holiday season. Staff members and volunteers from the Marco Island Academy helped Marco’s children explore their own creative skills during the Annual Santa’s Workshop held at Mackle Park.

Dawn Snyder, the Recreation Program Supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department, was joined on Saturday Morning by Tristan Ashby one of the Recreation Leaders within the department to help with the 20 or so youngsters who participated in a number of fun arts and crafts activities that included decorating gingerbread houses and creating Christmas tree ornaments.

Santa’s Workshop is just one of the special activities which are being provided during the Christmas Holidays for local children by the city staff at Mackle Park.

Another major event will occur on December 17th at 10:00 AM at Mackle Park. Christmas Island Style will join with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department as Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive via helicopter to visit with local children, have their photos taken and enjoy cookies and milk with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

That morning always provides a great deal of excitement for children as well as their parents when the helicopter circles the large athletic field at Mackle Park before swooping in for a landing to the delight of all. After the helicopter pilot deems it is safe, Santa and Mrs. Claus will deplane and greet those in attendance and make their way into Mackle Park while others will stay behind to get a close look at Santa’s shiny ride before it departs the area. 

Samantha Malloy, the city’s Park and Recreation Director, commented, “You can just feel the excitement build, especially once the helicopter comes into view. It’s a wonderful event for us and for the whole community,” said Malloy.