Submitted Photo The Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club will host a “Breakfast with Santa” event on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. at the Dunkirk Moose Lodge 89, 296 Lake Shore Drive W. in Dunkirk. Pictured are some of the attendees at a prior “Breakfast with Santa.”

On Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m., the Dunkirk Moose Lodge 89, 296 Lake Shore Drive W., will be the site of the fortieth annual Lions Club “Breakfast with Santa.” The event is free and open to the public and will feature a magic show by “The Great Runfola — Magician Extraordinaire,” with “Miss Joanie — The One and Only!” Everyone is welcome to attend.

The event has always featured a magic show and a visit from Santa and his elves, who welcome the children to tell them all their desires for gifts and treats.

Puppeteer Jonathan Courtis will mingle among the guests and introduce the children to some friendly characters including shy dragon and a monkey with a monocle!

The breakfast features scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and french toast sticks. Juice and coffee are also provided.

“This event has been a Lions Club tradition since 1976 and the children are always the best part,” said Peter Clark, co-creator of the original event. “We wanted the children of our community to experience a holiday season event open to everyone in a safe and family friendly environment.”

There will also be free eye-screenings available that may uncover a number of hidden eye problems that are often targeted in children.

The Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. The Lions Club, an international club, has been around since 1917 helping communities throughout the world.

The club’s list of fundraisers, donations and efforts include collecting eyeglasses, funding “seeing eye” dogs, funding of the Niagara Frontier Reading Radio Service for the blind, eye-screenings in schools, and providing smoke detectors for families.

The Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club meets every other Monday at the Clarion Hotel. Potential members need only to attend a meeting and fill out an application to get involved, as well as pay an annual membership fee. Judy Cole currently serves as president.