WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Getting kids in the holiday spirit, snacks, gifts, and a live reading of the Polar Express made for a busy Dulles State Office Building Sunday.
Children gathered round, snacks and tickets to the Polar Express in hand as the train’s conductor, the storyteller, read the tale aloud, and when the story was finished, Santa arrived, offering silver bells much like he did for the Polar Express story’s protagonist.
It’s part of the North Country Festival of Trees’ free events for kids. Officials with the YMCA, who put on the event, say it’s sponsorships that allowed them to put on these free events, sponsorships and donations, which will benefit the Watertown Family YMCA’s youth programming and help Samaritan Medical Center build a new Cardiac Catheterization Lab which will help those undergoing heart issues.
“You’re coming in and enjoying, but the donations go back to the community so it’s really a nice turnkey event that allows us to give the community this holiday experience, but it also allows us to raise funds for our community,“ said April Anne Young, Senior Director of Marketing and Research Development of the YMCA.
The Festival of Trees runs until December 7th, their next kid-centered event is next Saturday where kids can once again come out and meet Santa.
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