Nenana Kids to See Santa Soon
Nenana kids get to see Santa at the annual Children’s Christmas Party in Nenana, Alaska each year. Brightly colored posters up around the community remind all that it’s that time of year again. Each year, each Nenana child up through the sixth grade receives a gift specifically for him or her, with their name on the package. The tradition was started many years ago by the Coghill family, and continues on to this day.
A group of Santa’s elves, Nenana Chapter, spend many hours in the weeks before the event wrapping and placing names on the gifts. In 2010, there was a shortage of gift wrap, and packages were wrapped in white paper. The kids did not seem to mind a bit.
Photo ops with Santa are not missed on the evening of the party, as each child is called up to the front of Nenana’s James Coghill Memorial Civic Center to receive their gift from Santa, and to have an opportunity to speak with the jolly old man.
By the end of the evening, the civic center is covered with gift wrappings and ribbons after the children have excitedly opened their gifts and have gone home with their families, and volunteers view the now calm scene with another year of fond memories behind them as they start the clean-up.
Aaron Shaw, shown here at the 2010 party, gets his camera ready to take a photo.
Art Credit Annette McDonald is the creator of each year’s poster.
Photo Credit Jensen & Jensen, Inc.
Meet the Author: Diane Jensen
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