FESTIVE GREETINGS

Waterfront Winterfest entertains families downtown with music, animals and activities

Local folks flooded downtown Lorain to see fireworks, pet reindeer, take their picture with Santa and more.

The event Saturday, Waterfront Winterfest at Broadway Avenue and Black River Landing in Lorain, celebrated a fourth year of providing the holidaythemed celebration.

“We have the event every Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it has grown each time,” said Stephen Bansek, entertainment coordinator for the event. “The Waterfront Winterfest committee spends the entire year focusing on making this a special event, and they did another great job.”

Bansek said this year’s event had an issue the committee needed to overcome.

“There is a lot to do, and it’s a perfect event to take the family to.” — Joyce Artis, of Lorain

“The first few years we were setting off the fireworks and lighting a Christmas tree at Veterans Park,” he said. “Unfortunately, the park has some water issues that affected the electricity. It forced us to look elsewhere, and The Lorain Port Authority stepped up in a big way. We have all of the fireworks and and some light displays down here at Black River Landing. We also have the Lorain High School marching band here to play some music to compensate for what we have had in the past. It has all come together very well.”

Bansek said the event has something for everyone.

“We have pictures with Santa, fireworks, businesses open on Broadway, Trees and Trains with their display, and we have also added a reindeer petting zoo,” he said. “There is plenty to do both with the landing and on Broadway.

Waterfront Winterfest Committee members Karyn Burk, Joyce Rhodes, Tammy Ramirez, Steven and Lollie Bansek all did a great job with planning this. I also want to thank everyone else who was involved in creating this great event.”

Tom Brown, executive director of the Lorain Port Authority, said he was excited to have Black River Landing as the event’s central location.

“It’s a great place for it and we are always happy to put something on like this,” he said. “We got plenty of space for people to walk around, see the lights and listen to music from the high school marching band.”

Mike Owens, from Lorain, said he was enjoying the event.

“They got a lot of stuff here, they stepped up their game from last year,” he said. “There are a lot more activities from ice sculping to the trees set up, you really can’t go wrong.”

Steven Hamilton, a Lorain resident, said the event was perfect for kids.

“You have the Disney princesses here along with the reindeer and Santa,” he said. “It’s one of those perfect Christmas events that has become a tradition.”

Joyce Artis, of Lorain, said the event was very well done.

“Lorain does a good job,” she said. “There is a lot to do, and it’s a perfect event to take the family to.”

“They got a lot of stuff here, they stepped up their game from last year. There are a lot more activities from ice sculping to the trees set up, you really can’t go wrong.” — Mike Owens, from Lorain

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Kenzie Warden, 6, of Sheffield Lake, tells Santa what she wants for Christmas Saturday at Waterfront Winterfest in downtown Lorain.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Mike Owens of Lorain, left, is with nephew Ryan Bailey, 4, of Lorain, and niece Emma Owens, right, 6, of Lorain as they pet reindeer during Waterfront Winterfest in downtown Lorain.