Santa’s Carnival is Back for 2023
Santa’s Carnival is Back for 2023
Connecting Communities in Action Brings Back a Favorite Event on Dec. 15th
Photos / Connecting Communities in Action
Ho ho ho, it’s almost Christmas. Storefronts are decorated for the holiday season, snow is on its way, and Santa is gearing up for the big night. He’s a busy man. But he always has time to make an appearance for the kids. That’s why on December 15th at Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) in Salamanca, the Annual Santa’s Carnival is making its comeback.
This year’s Carnival is sure to be just as fun as previous years, if not more! The family friendly event is FREE for all to attend and will run from 2:30-4:30pm. And when they say FREE, that’s what they mean. Food, drinks, games etc… it’s all included! There is no age limit, though it is geared more towards the younger generations of the family.
This occasion was created by CCA as a way to get local families together and bring the joy of the season to the community while making it accessible for everyone to participate. Front Desk receptionist Bonnie has been with CCA since 2017 and said that the carnival was always a big part of their year.
“It’s extra exciting this year, with the carnival coming back.” Bonnie stated. “We still aren’t quite back to fully opened from Covid, but this is a big step towards getting back to more normal routines. We set up everything in the large common area.”
Bonnie says guests can expect to have a fun-filled time at the event. “Each department of the CCA - which is about 10 - has their own table and will have different games and activities for the kiddos to do. I know our table is planning on having a Pin the Nose on Rudolph game, where if they get it close enough, we’ll give them a prize. Some departments have crafts like stringing necklaces that the kids can keep or creating candy cane baskets. Just a bunch of little fun things that visitors can enjoy. Many of our staff plan to dress up like characters to take photos with instant cameras so that anyone who wants, can take a memory home with them.”
Imagine the excitement when the little ones find Santa and Mrs. Claus on scene to greet them, as well as the much loved Frosty the Snowman. They’ll be joined by Buddy the Elf and Tinsel the Walking Christmas Tree!
Once you’ve worked up an appetite between the various crafts, games and photo shoots with all the characters, you can sit down with a nice hot cup of hot cocoa and dive into some delicious cookies.
Besides hosting the annual Santa’s Carnival, CCA also organizes other programs during the holiday season, which is a time of great need for some families. That’s why they have their Christmas Sharing Program, where they reach out to community members for sponsors. Those sponsors then can adopt a Cattaraugus County family and buy gifts for the children in that household. The gifts are delivered to CCA, who lets the family know to come pick them up for the holidays… all gift wrapped and ready to go.
This is a very active time for the CCA Food Pantry as well. They are planning to offer a limited amount of special Christmas boxes with items to build a nice Christmas meal for those who need them.
It’s amazing to see an organization striving to build up our local community members during what can be a difficult season. Bonnie ended with, “We are really excited. It’s been four years since we could host the carnival and we really hope for a great turnout. We’ll see everyone here on December 15th!”
If you would like more information on the carnival or want to keep up with programs offered through CCA, you can visit their Facebook page (CCA - Connecting Communities in Action) or go to their website at ccaction.org. CCA is located at 25 Jefferson Street, Salamanca, NY 14779.
