As visitors of all ages strolled through the beautiful and spacious Longwood Park, they were greeted by Mayor Nick Molnar, who has shown his dedication to the city since July of 2018. Hot chocolate was offered to warm your insides, while awaiting the flickering of Christmas lights and sounds to kick off the holiday season. One favorite light up display was a large brightly lit wreath that families could stand and put their face in the middle for photo opportunities. Another was a life-sized photo prop of Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, courtesy of Raising Canes, along with a prize wheel they provided.
It was a foggy night and a little chilly but without any snow flurries this year. The fog muted the fireworks display in the December night sky, but lit up just enough to know they were there. The fireworks made for a joyous and celebratory background to getting pictures taken with Santa Claus, as he greeted children and adults of all ages on the Longwood pier overlooking the small lake.
Children were nestled closely to their parents for warmth on horse drawn carriage rides, as they went clip clop along the festively lit pathways. Reindeer and their naturalists greeted visitors, while sharing information about their antlers, allowing visitors to touch and feel some that they had on display. According to Jillian Schleman, a seven-year-old at Northfield Elementary School, “I looked all around for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it was such a foggy night and I knew he could help. I was bummed that the hot chocolate and the horse drawn carriage ride lines were so long and I missed out on both, in fact we were next in line to go on the ride before they closed it. I was excited to see Santa and many friends from school!”
Whether you ventured through the festival of lights on foot, or hitchhiked a horse-drawn carriage ride through the December foggy night, there was something to see around every turn, including ice sculptures such as a cheery penguin and a mighty firefighter carved by local sculptors such as Erik Freay. Numerous Christmas carolers from the Stow Monroe Falls High School Vocal Jazz group and jingle bell sounds added an authentic feel to the Macedonia Parks and Recreation Winterfest Festival of Lights, which will remain set up through after the New Year 2023. Perhaps off in a distance, as we glance up to the December night skies, we will see Rudolph lighting up his nose through the foggy misty air.
A special thank you to Jason Chaddock, Macedonia Parks and Recreation Director, whom would also like to thank:
Volunteers included Boy Scout Troop #882 and Longwood Manor Historical Society. Our staff was a combination of Parks and Recreation teaming up with Service over the last couple weeks to prepare for this event. We are grateful to all the employees because it took everyone to make this happen. Also, a shout out to our event day staff; Event Director Sam Edgar, Jason Kuczma, Steve Dzurnak, Joe Hare, Mark Frank, John Doyle, Sam Clark – Cartwright, and Cindy Funk. Also, a special shout out to our Fire Department for being on scene to help with event, monitor fireworks, and to bring Santa in from the North Pole!
Raising Canes was our event sponsor and BEI was a display sponsor.
According to Jason, “We are so glad thousands of people were able to enjoy the first annual WinterFest. We learned so much during this event and we look forward to the future improvements and growth of this event. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!”
Photos courtesy of Sam Schleman, of his daughter Jillian Schleman
