CENTERBURG — The winter’s first real snowstorm didn’t keep the Christmas spirit from beaming in downtown Centerburg Saturday night as the village kicked off its Hometown Holiday celebration, sponsored by the Heart of Ohio Women’s Club.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a Central Ohio Joint Fire District fire engine with the contestants for the third annual Miss Snowflake and Jack Frost pageant.
Ten-year-old Alyssa Van Dyke, 8-year-old Kyla Rutan and 7-year-old Taylor Ferrell competed for the Miss Snowflake title this year. Eight-year-old Kyle Rutan and 7-year-old J.T. Perkins were the Jack Frost contestants.
The children had been working hard at collecting a penny a vote in the contest, with the winning contestants earning the most votes and raising money for Interchurch Social Services and The Salvation Army in Centerburg.
Ferrell was crowned Miss Snowflake and Perkins was named Jack Frost after raising the most money for the contest. After their names were called, Ferrell and Perkins helped Santa and Mrs. Claus pass out candy to children posing for photos with Santa.
Both children explained after the pageant that they enjoyed collecting the money to help other families.
Ferrell, a second-grader at Centerburg Elementary in Miss Maxwell’s class, said she enjoys reading and sledding down the hill at her house.
She said she collected the money for her votes from family, and in jars she placed at Hometown Market and Dollar General. Ferrell said celebrating Jesus’ birthday is her favorite part of Christmas.
Perkins said although he loves the presents at Christmas, thinking of the needs of others this time of year is his other favorite part of Christmas.
He had help from friends collecting the pennies for the contest.
“I went to lots of places that had lots of money,” he said.
He credited his friend, Leon, with chipping in a large number of pennies to the campaign.
Heart of Ohio Women’s Club member Debbie Canipe said this is the third year for the pageant.
“These young people are off to a great start, and every cent they are collecting will go to help families in need in Centerburg,” Candy McCracken of the Heart of Ohio Women’s Club told the crowd gathered for the pageant.
While children sat on Santa’s lap, some more reluctantly than others, the crowd enjoyed Christmas carols played by music students from the Noteworthy Music Studio in Centerburg.
Music teacher Beckie Boger said her students were participating for the first time this year.
“This is the first time I’ve been a part of this celebration or brought students,” she said. “It’s pretty neat.”
First-grader Abbie Miller said it was only a little scary to play “Oh Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bells” on the piano for the crowd.
“It was fun,” she said after finishing her performance.
Three-year-old Camden Runyon needed to warm up to Santa a little bit before finally taking his spot on the big guy’s lap and telling him he really wants a train table this Christmas.
After everyone had their fill of cocoa and cookies, with the downtown Christmas decorations now lit on both sides of the town park, Santa and Mrs. Claus hopped back on the fire truck to return home.
