Kids of all ages enjoy Sundae with Santa

If the previous night was all about adults having some fun while raising funds for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, then there’s little doubt that Sunday was for the kids.

The third annual Sundae with Santa packed the Heritage Inn banquet room with hundreds of youngsters and their parents, as they checked out the decorations from the Festival of Trees the night before while taking part in a host of activities, hitting the sundae bar and, of course, having a visit with Santa Claus.

“We’re really pleased to be able to sponsor the event every year. It’s a great event for the Health Foundation and such a great kick-off to the Christmas season,” said Suzanne Boyer, senior corporate communications consultant with SaskWater, who sponsor the wildly popular event.

A total of 400 tickets at $8 each were sold for the festivities, and based on the number of people packed into the hall, there was little question the vast majority of them were put to good use. “(The number of tickets sold) was as high as we could go,” Boyer said. “We’re so thrilled with that, just knowing that we can let the community see some of the displays that are part of the Festival of Trees, too, and experience the kind of magic that they put into it... then we just try and find something fun that the kids can get hands-on themselves and have some fun.”

An always-popular stop is the Letter to Santa Claus writing station, which included a special mail box with a direct line to Santa’s workshop. “They love the mailbox and having a chance to mail their own letters, it’s kind of funny because a lot of times the parents have to show the kids how to use the mail box; they have no idea what it is...” Boyer said with a laugh. The key to it all is raising funds for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, with 100 per cent of all sales going toward the pediatrics unit at the F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital. It’s expected around $3,500 will be raised once all is said and done; a solid kick-off to the season of giving.

“Just the mood in the room, it’s not just the kids…it brings a lot of Christmas cheer for the adults,” Boyer said. “It’s fun, and everyone loves ice cream, so you can’t really go wrong.”