Santa, live reindeer to appear at Christmas in the Park

A massive snowstorm that hit Fort Scott and other parts of Bourbon County last week caused the cancellation of schools and the rescheduling of various other activities in the area, leaving some event planners wondering what to do in the coming days.

Crews have worked the last several days, clearing roads and highways in the city and county that were covered in the storm that dumped 13 inches of snow in Fort Scott and as much as 18 inches in rural parts of Bourbon County.

Cold temperatures -- often dropping into the teens -- over the last week have kept snow and ice on the ground in much of the county, which could prove to be a fitting backdrop for the rescheduled Christmas in the Park event -- with its chosen theme of "Winter Wonderland" -- on Saturday at Gunn Park.

The free event, originally scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2, had to be rescheduled for the same time this Saturday, due to the enormous snowfall late last week, officials said. The Gunn Park Committee, which sponsors the event, has rescheduled nearly all of the planned activities for the evening of holiday enjoyment, committee member Diana Mitchell said.

On Tuesday, city crews began removing bushels of snow -- which had already begun to melt as temperatures reached into the mid-40s -- from the park in order to keep the event on schedule, she said. Slightly warmer temperatures have melted much of the wintry accumulation that blanketed the county and, barring any severe winter weather, the event should go smoothly.

After the event was rescheduled, the committee was lucky in getting one of the new additions to make its scheduled appearance this weekend, Mitchell said.

"We were concerned about getting the (live) reindeer back, because we had to book a year in advance to get on their schedule, but as fate would have it, they also had a cancellation for this Saturday and are able to come," she said.

The remainder of the evening's activities, including live musical entertainment, a shelter house decorating contest and a live nativity scene, should go as planned, Mitchell said. Volunteers plan to decorate the park this week with about 2,000 luminaries, and they will also float candles on lakes inside the park. Snow remaining inside the park should create a bright holiday ambience for festival-goers to enjoy as they take hayrack rides through the park, she said.

Children will be happy to know that a special visitor still intends to make an appearance on Saturday, and that children's games and activities will still take place. A little snow simply adds to the park's scenic charm, Mitchell said.

"We still plan on having the entire park lit up in lights, food, entertainment, and of course, Santa was able to rearrange his busy schedule and come," Mitchell said. "With the snow, it (the park) is beautiful."

Santa Claus and the live reindeer will be available for pictures that evening, as jolly Old Saint Nick visits with children and goes over wish lists with them. Should the evening get too cold, people waiting in line to see Santa will be able to stay warm inside tents set up outside Santa's workshop, Mitchell said.

The Gunn Park Committee accepts free will donations that go directly into the park fund to purchase lights and decorations for the following year's event.