The event was held at Barker Common and featured various businesses and community outlets throughout Fredonia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa, Mrs. Claus and many elves came from the North Pole bringing merriment to hundreds of children throughout the day. There was holiday shopping for adults, too.

Shopping started with a long line of patrons patiently awaiting the WCA Home to open its doors. The home hosted an annual fundraising ornament sale starting at 9 a.m. Community members donated items, and in turn, shoppers purchased an array of interior and exterior Christmas decorations at deep discounts.

The United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church both hosted vendor fairs. The Methodist church hosted a Holiday Craft Show organized by FestivalsFredonia Inc. The show included a variety of cottage-industry crafters. The Presbyterian church hosted an Alternative Christmas Market with handcrafted items from around the world and alternative gift ideas such as donations to Rural Ministry of Northern Chautauqua County.

Santa Claus arrived at 10 a.m. to officially light the village’s tree in the gazebo. Refreshments were provided by Festivals Fredonia and Tim Hortons. Fredonia High School’s Madrigals sang Christmas carols. The annual “Community Give Back Donation” award was presented to Forest Lodge 166 Free and Accepted Masons. The Masons reach out to the community regularly, hosting a winter farmers’ market and breakfast as well as other activities.

OBSERVER Photo by Tonja Dodd Max Cuthbert, age 6 and first-grader at Fredonia Elementary creates a personal gingerbread house. The event was hosted by The Cakery at the White Inn Saturday morning as part of Fredonia’s Miracle on Main Street event.

There were many other activities for families to enjoy and participate in. The Presbyterian church displayed over 400 nativity scenes from all over the world, while the Methodist church hosted Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves. Each elf facilitated a station for boys and girls to create crafts, such as a hot cocoa reindeer, a construction-paper, candy-cane tree and a snowman mask, while Santa and Mrs. Claus interacted with the children.

Naomi and Ava Muck, along with parents Jill and Jonathan of Fredonia, stopped at each craft station. The seven-year-old twin sisters asked Santa for Legos and I Survive books.

Santa read, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to nearly 50 families with young children at the Darwin R. Barker Library. Each child received a goodie bag filled with candy and a toy.

Brian and Nicole Thompson from Fredonia, along with their children, Orion, 8, and Maya, 3, listened to the story and whispered to Santa a wish for a Cosmo the Robot for Orion and a race car for Maya.

Peggy Rose from “The Cakery” hosted a gingerbread house workshop for families with over 100 houses decorated. The workshop was held at the festively decorated White Inn.

Lisa Cuthbert, her children and their grandmother, Diane Millonzi, attended. Young Max, 6, described the features of his holiday house — a cinnamon candy chimney, gum-drop security cameras, a peppermint candy disk clock and a mint-chocolate front door. His sister Evelyn, 10, also crafted her own house.

At the DFT Telecommunications Museum, children sent telegraphs to the North Pole. Children built their personal fairy gardens at Harvest View Greenhouses. Mr. and Mrs. Claus also came, adding even more festive excitement.

Finally, patrons were given the opportunity to give back to the community and donated non-perishable food items to the Fredonia Food Pantry.