It’s beloved holiday tradition!
Children got a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at the Carmine Carro Center during the 23rd annual Santa in the Park celebration on Dec. 3.
And one 4-year-old who was too frightened to sit on Santa’s lap last year really grew up in 2016 — this year he excitedly shared his holiday wishes with the jolly old elf, his mom said.
“It was great, he wasn’t afraid of Santa,” Kathy Bostroem said of her son Kristopher. “Last year, he was afraid so I was happy he went up there.”
The holiday extravaganza — hosted by the Marine Park Civic Association, Marine Park Alliance, and the Parks Department — also included a crafts table, gingerbread cookie decorating, and face painting. The kids had fun keeping busy, said Bostroem.
“He loved the face painting. He got a Santa with a fancy sleigh on his cheek,” she said.
Organizers, who estimate a few hundred people came out to share in the holiday spirit, also handed out cuddly reindeer for the children to take home, and one kid won’t let it out of his sight now, his dad said.
“He sleeps with it every night now,” said Chris Doyle from Gerritsen Beach.
