Frozen Christmas a fun detour for a day
IMPERIAL — The snowballs flew like confetti on New Year’s Eve as youngsters were captivated by the novelty in this desert community that never sees flurries unless taken for a drive far enough west on I-8 in the dead of winter.
For some the Frozen Christmas Downtown Imperial, another of its Market Days on Saturday, was a wonderful place to visit not a place to live in. For Hailey Nelson, 4, “It’s a lot of fun.” But her mother Candace was not tempted to take a run down the icy track with Olaf’s sleds, yet her husband Les, may give it a try.
Maci-Jo Clayton, 6, enjoyed her ride on the sledding track, even sister Meteenah, 13, had fun and wished it was here for the winter. Yet for Carly Ashurst who had a blast racing as a family with her three children, would rather just visit the snow for a day, “Because you got to dodge all the snowballs,” she pointed out.
Her daughter Brently, 7, liked going fast on the sled and wished snow in Imperial stayed all winter. “My youngest tried building a snowman earlier,” said Ashurst. “But the snow was packed too tight from everyone walking on it.”
Leslie Gonzalez, thought it was great the city brought in snow where there ordinarily is none.
“I took a video with my smart phone,” said Gonzalez. “It was fun.”
Her son Dante, 5, thought the sledding was so good and would go again. Holly Queen confided the sledding was really fun but is not a winter sports fan and would not like to live with snow. Her daughter, Penelope Rebolar, 4, said her first time on a sled, “It was good, but scary.”
For the more domesticated Southern Californian souls, Market Days offered less chilling attractions with dozens of handicraft booths from warm woolen winter wear to locally made honey and olive oil. And also visits with Santa Claus in his sleigh.
Crystal Davila and her son Aaron, 5, got to sit on Santa’s lap in tandem. Aaron liked the candy cane he received yet still asked Santa for a pair of Raptor (dinosaur) Hands.
And for those who like their fun with a more academic feel there was the Imperial Valley Discovery Zone, an interactive science exhibit, run cooperatively by Imperial High School teachers and their students. Its goal is to increase science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) literacy in the region.
Dennis Gibbs, Imperial High School chemistry and physics teacher built his own miniature geyser. Gibbs contends any amateur Edison can construct a lab with simple supplies from Home Depot.
“My geyser works just like Old Faithful at Yellowstone only it’s smaller and instead of erupting every 86 minutes ours takes just six,” he said.
There was also a petting zoo of English and Polish Lop rabbits, an Alpine goat and Tina the twoyear-old pot bellied pig. Tutorials were held by Imperial senior Kaylah Moreno who will use her modest fee to save for college. She has spent seven years in 4-H Clubs and would like to share her expertise with others.
“I want people to understand, they need to be gentle with animals because in the presence of humans they tend to tense up,” she said. “With any new pet you should have a calm approach.”