Storybook Holiday

By Autumn Vanous

ENGL 336.002

The sun was shining, but there was a chill to the air as the City of Frostburg kicked off their Ninth Annual Storybook Holiday Saturday, Dec. 01, 2012. The event is organized and supported by: Children’s Literature Centre at Frostburg State University, Frostburg First, City of Frostburg, Frostburg Parks and Recreation, and Main Street Books. Families eagerly formed a line down Mechanic Street to enter City Place, which was transformed into the Elves’ Secret Workshop. One of the many events Storybook Holiday has to offer during the daylong festivities. While waiting for their turn people enjoyed the smell of fresh popped kettle corn and the sounds of Christmas carols drifting through the streets; as well as, a guest appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Clause for the 11:30 a.m. opening.

Upon first entering City Place guests had the chance warm up and grab a snack while perusing local crafts that were available for purchase as handmade Christmas gifts for their loved ones. When entering the winter wonderland children are happily greeted by joyous elves who explain all the wonderful things they can do while visiting. The children then get tickets to the elves secret workshop, a picture frame for their free picture with the elves, and vote for their favorite elf. Adults have the opportunity to make donations and are shown the lines for each the activities. The crowd thickened and the lines seemly never moved, but the burden of the wait was eased by the many volunteer entertainers making Christmas magic for the impatient children.

First stop, tables where children write letters to Santa Clause and deposit them directly in the North Pole Mail Box. Friendly elves await shy children that need a bit of help. Cookie Dough and Stocking help 4 -yr-old Taven Washington, a preschooler from Cresaptown, M.D., with his letter to Santa. Cookie Dough, Cathy Close and Stocking, Ashley Logsdon, both FSU juniors majoring in Early Childhood Education are volunteering for the first time this year. Logsdon said, “The best part of volunteering is that I get to kick off the holiday season with the kids.” Logsdon writes down young Washington’s requests for Santa, “A Batman, Batman Lego, soccer ball and a Lego truck.” Generally speaking most of the children are sweet and they ask Santa for normal things. Logsdon shared her strangest request, “A boy asked for violent toys. He wanted a real crossbow and a real gun.” Baffled as to why such a young boy would want these things he explained to her that he needs them to go hunting with his father. Logsdon said, “I was relieved, though he seemed young to go hunting.”

The day is as long for the elves as the lines are for the parents. Logsdon plans to leave the event and work a three to 10 shift at Sheetz. Close started her day in the morning parade as a candy elf, still bubbly and energetic, she explains, “I love it, running down the street throwing candy and high fiving kids. It’s a Blast! ” Two more lines, accumulating to over an hour wait, one for photos with elves and the other for the secret workshop were well worth the wait for young Washington. He apprehensively entered the secret workshop guided by an elf through a miniature green door. No adults are allowed inside that’s the secret of the workshop. They are directed to claim the children on the other end at another miniature green door marked exit. A few minutes later the children proudly pop out the other end with self made Christmas ornaments in hand. The crowds and lines are a small price for parents to pay when they see the pride and joy on their child’s face at storybook holiday.