Community treated to a cool celebration at Winterfest 2024
by Dan Holland
Hundreds of area residents flocked to Broadview Heights city campus Dec. 7 for Winterfest 2024, held at the city amphitheater.
The event, sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department, featured pictures with Santa, Santa’s workshop, ice sculpting demonstrations, hayrides, a food truck, a DJ, safety forces and service department personnel and vehicles and a fireworks show.
Lines to visit with Santa, who arrived by fire engine, and hayrides were both lengthy throughout the event.
The event was the third such to be held outdoors, according to Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Ryan Meyer, who attended the event with his family.
“We used to hold this event indoors, and we had some activities similar to what you see today, but when COVID hit, and we started holding our Fall Fest outdoors, we thought we would move this outdoors as well and integrate the elements,” said Meyer. “We have a food truck here, photos with Santa, and Santa’s workshop in a big heated tent where kids can make and decorate toys and write letters to Santa.”
“We took the best parts of the indoor event and brought them all outside,” he added. “It’s been great – the kids can play in the snow, and we’ll have fireworks at the end. Our family is really looking forward to seeing Santa and building and decorating toys in the workshop.”
Broadview Heights residents Nora Mahoney and Matt Jones brought their sons, Conor and Declan, to get pictures with Santa and to visit the city vehicles on display. “It’s all about the fire trucks, police cars and the snowplow with these guys,” said Nora Mahoney.
Connor Cook, of Hudson, attended the event for the first time with children Cameron and Rose, who climbed a small snow mound near the amphitheater for some seasonal fun. “I grew up in Hinckley, and we lived a few houses up the street from Richfield; where Richfield, Hinckley and Broadview Heights all come together,” he explained. “My sister … saw an article on this event and sent it to me, and I thought it sounded like fun, nearby where I grew up. We had no idea this was going on today.”
Parma residents Chris and Nicki O’Brien were first-time visitors to the event along with children Avery and Olivia. The family first visited Santa’s workshop to help Santa make toys, and they also wrote letters to Santa. “We just came out today to have some fun with the family and enjoy the snow, and to do some free crafts and take a hayride,” said Nicki O’Brien. “And, we’ll be meeting up with a few other people we know who plan on coming out as well.”
Reed and Kelly Remington, of Hinckley, brought their 16-month-old son Jack to see the vehicles on display. “We’ve been to Home Days here before, but this is our first visit to Winterfest,” said Kelly Remington. “We are really looking forward to pictures with Santa and drinking some hot chocolate.”Two-year-old Matthew Marsico, of Richfield, had a chance to sit in the driver’s seat of a city snowplow truck during the event. “He really wanted to see the trucks and other vehicles and to visit with Santa,” said mom Brooke Marsico.
photo caption:
Broadview Heights Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Ryan Meyer poses with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Jaden and Gwenevere, near the illuminated “Let it Snow” sign. Photo by Dan Holland