Santa in the Park Tuesday

Over 2,000 people expected to attend

Santa Claus and his elves and reindeer will make a stop in Centennial Park at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday during the Santa in the Park event to ensure every kid in the city gets a gift and a chance to take a picture with him.

In addition to Santa, the free event, which runs until 8 p.m., will also feature Cantrell’s mule and horse rides, performances by the Pioneer Middle School Jazz Band, the Mariachi Academy, candy canes and free bike raffles and gift bags. Councilmember Monte Reyes will serve as the event’s emcee.

Thanks to Walmart’s donation, Augie Gonzalez, the chairman of the event, said he’s got around 50 to 70 bikes to give away this year, as well as some bike helmets.

Gonzalez said every kid will get a raffle ticket for free and will have a chance to win a bike and helmet.

Other than those items, Gonzalez said each kid will also get a gift bag, which will contain cookies, moon pies and other items donated by Walmart, and literature from local agencies such as the Porterville City Library and the Porterville Police Department. He said representatives from the Tulare County District Attorney’s office will be in attendance at the event handing out gift bags and candy canes.

“They partnered up with us last year and they are real excited to be back out with us again,” said Gonzalez, who also serves as the city’s animal control supervisor.

Gonzalez said a number of agencies also partnered with the police department to put on this year’s event including the City of Porterville and the Porterville Chamber of Commerce. Gonzalez said sponsors of the event include the Walmart Distribution Center, Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Prairie Center 4-H, A New Leash on Life Dog Rescue, Walmart and the Porterville Public Library.

Gonzalez said the event will also feature approximately 400 donated stuffed animals for kids.

That, however, may not be enough as Gonzalez predicts there will be around 500 kids attending this year’s event.

“The event has grown tremendously,” Gonzalez said, adding that he is expecting over 2,000 people to attend. “Last year I estimated that we had about 400 kids and maybe a total of 1,500 people.”

Gonzalez said the event has grown so much that the city is going to shut down Main Street in front of City Hall, which he said is due to the amount of traffic the event is expected to generate.

Gonzalez said the police department has put on the annual event for nearly the last two decades, and added that it has provided less fortunate families in the community with an opportunity to have a Christmas.

“It is to get people in the holiday spirit that may not have the opportunity otherwise to get into that spirit and be in a Christmas environment,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said his favorite part about the event is seeing the smile on kids’ faces and seeing their parents overcome with joy and relief.

“Last year there were some very emotional and appreciative families that expressed their gratitude that if it wasn’t for this that they probably wouldn’t have had a Christmas,” Gonzalez said. “That was very pleasurable for us to see.”

What is also very pleasurable to see, Gonzalez said, is the community getting together and having a great time.

“It has just grown to be a very nice community evening and we just appreciate seeing everybody coming out and being able to enjoy what we are able to provide for them,” Gonzalez said.