A day of family-friendly Santa-centered fun wrapped up at Daubenspeck Park on Monday, where Santa Claus arrived on an ATV and hit the ice himself, skating, playing hockey and greeting children.
It was “A Day with the Clauses.” Festivities began early that morning at a pancake breakfast hosted by the Kenai Senior Center, as Santa and Mrs. Claus appeared for photos and center staff — joined by an elf — distributed food and orange juice.
The fun continued later in the day as Mrs. Claus led a special story time session at the Kenai Community Library. She guided children in song and read from an Alaska-themed adaptation of “12 Days of Christmas.” That version featured “11 salmon swimming”, “ six dogs a mushing,” and of course, “a ptarmigan in a spruce tree.”
Ice skating at Daubenspeck Park, hosted by the City of Kenai’s Parks and Recreation Department, closed out the day. Kids and families skated loops, passed hockey pucks around and warmed themselves with hot cocoa and campfires.
Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Zyra Stelzer, right, is “starstruck” by Santa Claus during A Day with the Clauses festivities at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus takes pancakes from the kitchen during A Day with the Clauses festivities at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mrs. Claus reads to childen during A Day with the Clauses festivities at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Children skate on a frozen lake during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus arrives in an ATV during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Garrett Coreson helps one of his children learn to ice skate during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus greets children during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus greets children during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus greets children during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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