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Fireworks, chili, cookies highlight Recreation events
Two weekends of activities are planned for the fifth annual Winter Recreation Celebration, sponsored by the Cheektowaga Youth and Recreational Services Department.
Highlights include the popular cookie bake-off and chili cook-off, both of which will take place in the Cheektowaga Recreation Center on December 16 from 1-3 p.m.
"You better not eat for a couple of days," warned the Youth and Recreational Department's Ellen Fischer. "We're still receiving application requests for both."
Fischer said applications will be accepted for the bake-off and cookoff through December 12.
Fireworks will once again explode over Stiglmeier Park on December 15, beginning at 7 p.m. Music and games are also featured.
"We're really focusing on the fireworks this year," Fischer added.
For the first time, the Winter recreation Celebration will take place throughout two consecutive weekends.
The festivities begin Friday with the annual "An Old Fashioned Family Christmas," a preregistered event that takes place from 6-8 p.m. at the Alexander Community Center, 275 Alexander Avenue.
Breakfast With Santa, scheduled for Saturday, is close to selling out. The event, taking place at the Alexander Community Center, begins at 9 a.m., with breakfast served at 9:15. The cost for the program is $8 per person, $7 with a resident discount card. Children under 2 are free, and preregistration is required.
Teenagers can skate from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the Cheektowaga Recreation Center, located in Town Park, on Saturday night. A canned food, toy or "Gift of Warmth" donation serves as admission. Coffee and cocoa will be available.
"Santa's Workshop" will be offered December 9 at the Dartwood Community Center, 222 Autumnwood Drive, from 2-4 p.m. Children will partake in craft activities.
The annual Christmas tree lighting occurs December 14 at the Cheektowaga Senior Center, 3349 Broadway. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. and includes live music, crafts, games, refreshments and a visit from Santa.
Fireworks highlight events in Stiglmeier Park on December 15. The park will be bustling with activity from 6-8 p.m. Live music by Ike Smith and the Boogie Monsters will be featured.
Visitors are asked to enter the park at the Facilities Department entrance on Losson Road, just west of the park's main entrance.
In lieu of fees for any of the activities, participants are asked to bring new winter hats, scarves or gloves/mittens to donate to the Gift of Warmth program.
The celebration concludes on December 16 with activities at the recreation center from 1-4 p.m.
The cook-off and bake-off will be accompanied by games, crafts, hay rides and a woodcarving demonstration by Carl Buryta of Alden.
A mascot hockey game, featuring Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, Santa, the Easter Bunny, and mascots from area colleges takes place at 2 p.m.
Live reindeer and a petting zoo will also be featured. A donation to the Gift of Warmth serves as admission for public skating.
Call the Youth and Recreational Services Department at (716) 897- 7207 for more information and to register for events.
The Cheektowaga Times once again is media sponsor for the Winter Recreation Celebration.
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