Hundreds of folks turned out on the day after Thanksgiving to kick off Christmas Comes to Kenai in a traditional celebration that goes back to when the Kenai Chamber started with Peggy Arness as its first director. Santa Claus himself has had a standing engagement on the day after Thanksgiving with the Kenai Chamber and the Kenai Fire Department and while his legendary reindeer are resting up for their global tour Christmas Eve, the Jolly Ol’ Elf arrives atop the KFD Firetruck. “He was at the Visitor Center until about 3:00pm posing for photos with hundreds of kids that were sitting on his knee for the first time. Jen Dye was our photographer this year and each family went home with a free photo and goodie bag compliments of Santa and the Kenai Chamber,” said Johna Beech, Kenai Chamber CEO. Then just a few hours later, after a cookie and milk break, Santa returned atop the KFD Firetruck to greet hundreds of enthusiastic jumping up and down boys and girls who turned out on a chilly evening for the Chambers Electric Light Parade, bonfire and fireworks display. “We were afraid we’d have another warm snowless Christmas Comes to Kenai this year, but Mother Nature heard our cry and gave us a winter wonderland. We had a great turn out for the parade with twelve float entries this year. For the first year Fred Myer and Lynden Transport partnered and came up with an amazing float that won first place this year,” said Beech. Other parade winners were the Kenai Peninsula Racing Lions for the best organization entry and once again the terrific KCHS Drumline were the judge’s favorite for the best youth entry. “We like to remind shoppers that events like Christmas Comes to Kenai is funded by local businesses who reinvest in fun for the local community. Sponsors like Doyle’s Fuel Service and Weaver Brothers along with the City of Kenai who sponsored our fireworks display, Udelhoven Oilfield Services sponsored the gifts for the kids visiting Santa and dozens of other sponsors that take the dollars you spend with them and reinvest them in our community to improve our quality of life,” said Beech.
