Families flock to Christmas in the Park

Hundreds of families gather at the Buckhannon Park Thursday to celebrate an ‘Old Fashioned Christmas.’ Buckhannon Mayor Robert N. Skinner flips the switch to light the Christmas Tree donated by French Creek Christmas Trees as Santa Claus looks on. Activities in the park included a live nativity scene, live music, visits with Santa Claus and free cookies, hot chocolate, masks, coloring books and stockings for youngsters. This is the first year for the event, but organizers said they hope to make this a yearly tradition in Buckhannon.

Beth Christian Broschart
December 24, 2021

BUCKHANNON – Families flocked to the Buckhannon City Park Thursday to welcome the Christmas season and celebrate the holidays with loved ones and neighbors.

The event, which was rescheduled from Saturday due to rain, was the first ‘Old Fashioned Christmas.’ It included a tree lighting, live music performances, a live nativity, performances by Elite Rival Twirlers and activities for the young ones, such as a visit with Santa Claus, hot chocolate, cookies, letters to St. Nick, face masks, Christmas stockings and coloring books.

A live nativity scene reminds folks of the reason for the season at Thursday’s ‘Old Fashioned Christmas’ held at the Buckhannon City Park. Brenda Hall organized the nativity which included not only live actors but also animals.

Santa Claus and Buckhannon Mayor Robert N. Skinner III arrived at the celebration aboard Buckhannon fire trucks with their lights blazing.

Robyn Simons, who helped organize the event, lives next to the Buckhannon City Park. She hopes to make this a yearly tradition.

“I was at a BURMA meeting and the mayor came in and said he would like to see an old-fashioned Christmas, and I pulled into my house and looked over at the Buckhannon City Park and thought that it would make a great place for an old-fashioned Christmas,” Simons said. “I told my friends Jody Light and Jo Anderson my idea, and we got more people involved, and this is what we came up with.”

Simons said they were fortunate to have lots of donated items for the event. Her hope is that the celebration to continute to grow and be like a Christmas from a Hallmark movie.

Children attending the ‘Old Fashioned Christmas’ held Thursday at the Buckhannon City Park had the opportunity to tell Santa Claus the items on their wish list and make sure they were on the ‘Nice List.’

Santa Claus said he was getting his sled all packed up and ready for his worldwide trip on Friday evening.

“I think most of the Northern Hemisphere will have great weather for the flight,” Santa Claus said. “My nice list is longer than it has ever been, and the reindeer and I are excited to visit the homes of all the nice girls and boys across the world.”

Following the event, Skinner said he thought the ‘Old Fashioned Christmas’ celebration was fantastic.

“I think this has been exceptional, especially because it was just the first year,” Skinner said. “I love that we have included our City Park in an important community event, and my hat is off to the committee for organizing this event. I hope we can build on this next year and keep it going as an annual event.”

Skinner said people were looking for safe, fun things to do to usher in the Christmas season.

“This was an outdoor event, and the Buckhannon City Park is large enough for folks to be able to socially distance,” Skinner said. “Everyone could enjoy themselves without feeling they were unsafe. I think this is the perfect atmosphere and a really nice evening for people to gather with one another and enjoy the Christmas season.”