The City of Kenai invited children and families to spend “A Day with the Clauses” during a multiple-event seasonal celebration Monday.
Starting at 8 a.m., a pancake breakfast was held at the Kenai Senior Center. Families and kids filled tables in the main dining space at the center, while Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by Ken Aaron and Kit Hill, were staged for photos. Santa greeted kids, passed out candy canes, ad-libbed songs and asked children what they wanted for Christmas.
Mrs. Claus took the spotlight at the second event, a special themed story time at the Kenai Community Library. She brought along three books, which she read to a packed crowd of kids in the library’s Kid Zone — with library staff leading the kids in songs between each story, including “If You’re Jolly and You Know It Clap Your Hands.”
The day’s finale was set to be ice skating with Santa at Daubenspeck Park, where snow on the ice had been plowed to make a small loop. Due to the frigid weather, with temperatures as low as 20 below zero, ice skating was canceled and replaced with a free play time at the Kenai Rec Center.
The center’s two racquetball courts were opened to the kids, one full of toys, the other with a large inflatable hamster ball. Mrs. Claus handed out hot cocoa while Santa milled about, interacting with kids and parents.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
Pancakes are delivered to tables during Breakfast with Santa at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus (Kit Hill) and Santa (Ken Aaron) raise their arms as they participate in a song during Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus (Kit Hill) and Santa (Ken Aaron) stretch their arms as they participate in a song during Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Children fill the Kid Zone during Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus, played by Kit Hill, reads to the children during Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus, played by Kit Hill, shows the pictures in her storybook to the kids during Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa, played by Ken Aaron, and Mrs. Claus, played by Kit Hill, wait for children to arrive during Breakfast with Santa at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
