Lindsey, Cody and Lawson Farwell watch fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Lindsey, Cody and Lawson Farwell watch fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna brings holiday cheer

Christmas in the Park drew hundreds to meet Santa Claus, go on sleigh rides, sip hot cocoa and listen to music

Soldotna Creek Park was again filled with winter jackets and holiday cheer on Saturday as the annual Christmas in the Park drew hundreds to meet Santa Claus, go on sleigh rides, sip hot cocoa and listen to music.

Even before a Central Emergency Services firetruck delivered Santa to the waiting crowd, lines stretched across the park for cookies, stockings and rides. The annual event is put on by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, with support from a variety of local businesses and entities who donated the drinks, cookies, gifts for free stockings and more.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche welcomed Santa to the space’s main stage — saying he was hoping for an opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and make a few Christmas wishes of his own. Santa said the youngest child to sit on his lap was only 4 hours old, at Central Peninsula Hospital. The oldest, he said, was 104 years old.

The pair led the crowd to the Christmas tree at the parks center, and led a countdown to its lighting — marked with the cheers of a crowd of children.

After the lighting, Santa moved to his seat — where his reindeer were waiting — and spent the next couple of hours sitting with children, hearing their Christmas wishes and giving their parents the opportunity to grab photos.

While people waited, a string of performers kept action moving on the space’s main stage. Ellie and the Echoes, the Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers, Charli Byrd and Josiah Burton sang Christmas carols, and the College Heights Baptist Church put on a Nativity scene. Ellie Nelson and Burton said as they performed that they were plucking guitar strings and striking piano keys with chilly fingers.

Festivities closed with fireworks exploding over the Kenai River, the edge of the park lined with people hoping for a good view.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.

Lindsey, Cody and Lawson Farwell watch fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Lindsey, Cody and Lawson Farwell watch fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Santa Claus disembarks from a Central Emergency Services firetruck to join Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Santa Claus disembarks from a Central Emergency Services firetruck to join Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Santa Claus speak to attendees of Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Santa Claus speak to attendees of Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Santa Claus leads the crowd to the tree lighting during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Santa Claus leads the crowd to the tree lighting during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Santa Claus and Nugget count down to the lighting of the tree during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Santa Claus and Nugget count down to the lighting of the tree during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Santa Claus and Nugget ccelebrate the lighting of the tree during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Santa Claus and Nugget ccelebrate the lighting of the tree during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ellie Nelson performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ellie Nelson performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ellie & the Echoes perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ellie & the Echoes perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Charli Byrd performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Charli Byrd performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Josiah Burton performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Josiah Burton performs during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Attendees line the edge of Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, to see fireworks over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Attendees line the edge of Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, to see fireworks over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Santa Claus hugs Paul Cook during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Santa Claus hugs Paul Cook during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion The Kenai Performers’ Victorian Carolers perform during Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Fireworks explode over the Kenai River during Christmas in the Park festivities at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read