Christmas came to Nikiski on Saturday during a festive event at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center.

Attendees at the event, hosted by North Peninsula Recreation Service Area, had the opportunity to partake in a hot cocoa bar, take pictures with Santa Claus and peruse local crafts in a fair that filled one large space in the center and stretched out into two hallways.

Kids could be seen hiding around the corner, peeking out at Mr. Claus, trailing behind their parents looking at crafts, or getting crafty in their own right in two designated craft rooms.

In one room, kids could collect frosting and sugar cookies to decorate, a staff member piping out green, yellow and red frosting into the waiting trays. In another, kids could collect pages for coloring, with different pencils, markers and crayons strewn across tables.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Local crafters sell their products at a craft fair, part of Christmas Comes to Nikiski festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local crafters sell their products at a craft fair, part of Christmas Comes to Nikiski festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Children collect frosting for decorating Christmas cookies, part of Christmas Comes to Nikiski festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Children decorate Christmas cookies, part of Christmas Comes to Nikiski festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)