The magic of the holiday season arrived early for you patients and their families at MemoricalCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach.
Children received gifts, wore festive attire and had an opportunity to meet Santa during two annual traditions that the hospital celebrates – “Santa’s Workshop” and “Breakfast with Santa.”
The Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital has hosted “Santa’s Workshop” for more than 25 years, officials said. The hospital transforms its auditorium into a holiday wonderland, giving kids the chance to experience yuletide joy when being home for the holidays isn’t possible.
This year’s event took place on Friday, Dec. 5, with patients and their families stepping into a festive wonderland created by Turner Construction, which has sponsored the event for the past 18 years, and dozens of local community organizations and hospital departments. Each booth featured themed activity stations, interactive games, books, gifts and many more surprises.
Santa Claus handed out gifts and posed for pictures with young patients and their families at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Parents posed their children for pictures at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Aquarium of the Pacific was among the local organizations part of this year’s annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Farmers & Merchants Bank was among the local organizations part of this year’s annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Volunteers handed out teddy bears to the hospitalized children, bringing a smile to their faces. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A Friend in Me, a volunteer-run nonprofit with the goal of providing comfort and joy through fun social events and activities for pediatric patients at hospitals, was one of the local organizations part of this year’s annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hospitalized children and their families enjoyed a morning of holiday cheer, activities and gifts at this year’s annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“Santa’s Workshop” is an annual event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital that gives kids the chance to experience the magic of Christmas when being home for the holidays isn’t possible. This year’s event took place on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Santa Claus handed out gifts and posed for pictures with young patients and their families at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Santa Claus handed out gifts and posed for pictures with young patients and their families at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital brought holiday cheer, activities and gifts for young patients and their families on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As children and their families walked into “Santa’s Workshop” on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, they were greeted by Marvel superheroes – including Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As children and their families walked into “Santa’s Workshop” on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, they were greeted by Marvel superheroes – including Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Santa Claus handed out gifts and posed for pictures with young patients and their families at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Santa Claus handed out gifts and posed for pictures with young patients and their families at the annual “Santa’s Workshop” event at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From decorating cookies to writing letters to Santa, every moment was designed to spark joy and provide a sense of normalcy during a challenging time for children, officials said. Santa also made an appearance to greet each child and hand out gifts.
“This is an amazing event because all of our kids who have to be in the hospital this time of year, it’s difficult to be in the hospital any time of the year, but especially now during the holidays,” Rita Goshert, director of the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, said in a Friday interview. “We try to bring a little bit of that (holiday spirit) here to the pediatric patients and their families. Usually, they are shocked when they walk into the room and see all of the decor, and it really brings a smile to their faces and brightens their day.”
Events like “Santa’s Workshop” not only support patients’ emotional well-being but also create cherished memories that extend beyond the hospital room, officials said.
The next day, Santa joined Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital for another event along Long Beach’s waterfront.
Santa traded snow for sunshine and made a grand coastal arrival at Parkers’ Lighthouse, stepping off his yacht to greet local families and children receiving care at the hospital.
For more than two decades, the waterfront restaurant in Shoreline Village has hosted “Breakfast with Santa,” an event dedicated to spreading festive fun to the Long Beach community while supporting children who are hospitalized during the holiday season, according to a press release.
A little girl beams with joy while spending time with Santa during the annual “Breakfast with Santa” event hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse for young patients and their families at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
Santa made a grand coastal arrival at Parkers’ Lighthouse, stepping off his yacht to greet Millie the Dolphin, mascot of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, while holiday excitement builds with eager children waiting nearby on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
Young patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital spend time with Santa during the “Breakfast with Santa” event hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
“Breakfast with Santa,” hosted annually by Parkers’ Lighthouse, celebrated nearly two decades of holiday magic this year. Restaurant staff proudly received the Honorary Friend of Child Life Award for hosting the event for families of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the local community on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
A local family gathers for a holiday photo with Santa during the “Breakfast with Santa” event hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse for young patients and families of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
Holiday cheer at “Breakfast with Santa” hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. A little girl spent time with Santa and Millie the Dolphin, the mascot of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
Santa spreads holiday cheer at “Breakfast with Santa” hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse for young patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Santa was surrounded by kids in festive sweaters and Santa hats. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
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A little girl beams with joy while spending time with Santa during the annual “Breakfast with Santa” event hosted by Parkers’ Lighthouse for young patients and their families at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
On Saturday, Dec. 6, Santa shared breakfast with young patients and local families, with help from Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Jake Heflin.
Children eagerly shared their holiday wish lists with Santa, revealing their most desired gifts. Many children wished for Squishmallows – the soft, plush toys – and Lego sets were also high on the list, along with craft kits for making jewelry and personalized creations, and immersive gadgets such as kid-friendly virtual reality headsets.
The event also serves as a fundraiser to benefit the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, which was developed to help make the hospital experience a more positive one for children of all ages. Child life specialists help cultivate an environment for patients and families that is fun, engaging and child-friendly – especially during the holiday season.
Attendees were also encouraged to bring unwrapped gifts to be distributed to children spending Christmas Day in the hospital, officials said.
After Santa met with each child, Goshert presented Parkers’ Lighthouse with the Honorary Friend of Child Life Award in recognition of its generosity and dedication to hosting “Breakfast with Santa.” This annual recognition is presented to individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional dedication to enhancing the lives of hospitalized children, according to a press release.
“For over two decades, Parkers’ Lighthouse has made it possible for the Child Life team to sprinkle holiday magic throughout the hospital, especially on Christmas morning,” Goshert said in a statement. “We are so thrilled to attend ‘Breakfast with Santa’ every year because it not only enhances the well-being and happiness of children undergoing hospital care, but it also uplifts the spirits of the entire community.”