By AYLIN AARHUS
Laurel residents put on their Christmas best and joined Santa for a festive breakfast at the Laurel Police Department’s Partnership Activity Center Dec. 6. The city’s parks and recreation staff hosted the event, which has been an annual tradition for more than 30 years.
“It’s magical,” said Divina St. Peter, recreation programs specialist with the department. “You can just feel a shift in energy right before Santa and Mrs. Claus roll out.”
Parks and recreation staff spent two weeks decorating the hall with stockings, wreaths and presents — and a Christmas tree, of course.
St. Peter said about 90 people attend the breakfast each year. Parks and recreation staff served up scrambled eggs, bacon and hashbrowns while participants waited to take photos with Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Laurel resident Chichi Anako brought her kids to Breakfast with Santa for the first time this year. “You can tell the kids are having a good time,” she said. “That’s what Christmas is all about.”
Gail and Teresa Hogan, who also live in Laurel, said their family comes to the event every year. “We’re the famous family here,” Teresa Hogan said.
“Every year, we look forward to all of it,” Gail Hogan added. “Taking pictures with Frosty and Rudolph, and with Santa and, you know, laughing and joking, and just having fun.”
The Hogans aren’t the only ones who consider the breakfast a family tradition.
Alison Grier, who was born in Laurel, has been coming to Breakfast with Santa since she was a child. “I’ve been coming here since I was younger, and now I get to bring my kids,” she said.
The event was an opportunity for kids to share their Christmas wishes with Santa, too. Laurel residents Chichi Anako’s son Obinna, 9, asked Santa for books from the series “Wings of Fire” and “Dragon Ball Z.” Avery, 7, who came to the event with her mother, Danielle Clardy, asked Mr. Claus for $10, plus some dolls and a makeup organizer.
And Grier’s 3-year-old son DJ asked for a T-Rex. It might be a few million years too late for that, but hopefully Santa can work some Christmas magic.
