West End YMCA Christmas in July draws more than 200 people

More than 200 people participated in this year’s Christmas in July, organized by Eastlake and the Lake County West End YMCA.

The Christmas in July program has been done for several years now, said Sue Dietrich, aquatic director with the YMCA.

And officials said that in a post pandemic setting, this year’s celebration on July 25 at the Houston-Fisher Pool in Eastlake, was a success.

Children were able to play games throughout the day, which included a Santa limbo, penny dives and frisbee tosses.

The games were followed by Santa and his elf’s arrival, who threw toys, gifts and candy to the children who participated.

“The Houston-Fisher Pool is a collaboration between Eastlake and the YMCA, and Eastlake was very gracious,” Dietrich said. “They brought cupcakes, got donors to supply different items for the day and then the Eastlake community helped us out with it. It was a beautiful day.”

Children being able to interact with children again and having fun has been huge, Dietrich said.

“Families are very appreciative of being able to go and do things again, and outside of just family interacting with other people,” she said. “The swim teams swimming again and swim lessons happening — they’re growing immensely. Staffing is hard to find, but it’s still growing.”

According to legend, Christmas in July’s beginnings take place at a summer camp in 1933. Keystone Camp in Brevard, N.C., an all-girls camp, decided to dedicate two days to the holiday on July 24 and 25, which was complete with fake snow, a Christmas tree, a gift exchange and Santa.

The camp continued the tradition each year and the tradition began to take off in the South, eventually spreading around the United States.