OLD FORGE — Dowtown Old Forge is getting in the spirit of Christmas. The restaurants have Christmas trees outside, the sidewalks have snowflake designs spray painted on them and there are snowflake lights attached to telephone poles. But Old Forge really got Christmassy on Dec. 2 with the fifth annual Snow Forge.
The 300-400 block of Main Street was free of car traffic but filled with three horse-drawn wagon rides pulled by Clydesdale horses from Brookvalley Farm in Carbondale. Kids got to visit Santa in the borough building and ride with Mrs. Claus in the trolleys. They also had the opportunity to see live reindeer named Clarice (after Rudolph’s girlfriend) and Ginger, from Spruce Run Farm in Bloomsburg. This is the second time the reindeer have been to Snow Forge.
“There are a lot of folks who come out (here) for this,” said owner David Hoover. “It’s good to see the kids’ faces when they see them. It even brings out the kid in adults.”
Clarice and Ginger have been displayed at 60 events each year such as tree lighting ceremonies in Hanover Twp. and Bethlehem. They’ve also been to Citizens Bank Park (home of the Phillies) during Christmastime when the Philly Phanatic dressed like Santa and was called “Phanta.”
Petting the reindeer is a favorite of 9-year-old Eliza Sanchuk and her 6-year-old brother Lincoln.
“It’s a good event,” said Eliza. “Our favorite is the reindeer.”
Besides the reindeer, games and activities were held in the kid zone in the parking lot of Arcaro & Genell restaurant. Kids played cornhole and a game similar to Plinko on “The Price is Right.” They also got to write letters to Santa, telling him what they want for Christmas, and dropping them in a big, red mailbox.
Some children got adults in the Christmas spirit by performing Christmas carols on the piano. They were piano students of Michele Malinko, of Old Forge, who has offered piano recitals at Snow Force since the first year. Seven-year-old Gigi Ceruti, played “Joy To The World” and “Go Tell It On A Mountain.”
Other piano students who played at Snow Forge include Alaina Revello, Gwyen and Kate O’Hearn, Bryce and Brayden Goida, Lucca, Rocco, and Siena Rinaldi, and Jake Bartinkowski.
“I’m just happy that we have so much talent in Old Forge,” she said. “I’m glad we can contribute to Snow Forge’s festivities.”
Also putting people in the Christmas spirit by song were the Old Towne Carolers and the Old Towne Carolers Brass Quartet,
The Old Forge Lions Club provided free hot cocoa with donations optional. The members come every year to warm up festival-goers.
“We were here last year but it was really cold,” said treasurer Mark Voyack. “Luckily this year, the weather is warmer and the rain held out.”
There were 65 vendors, including nearby businesses. Komensky’s Market, a little further down Main Street in Duryea, gave free samples of its smoked kielbasa and vended red horseradish and white horseradish. Chelsea Zongilla, an employee at Komensky’s for seven years, said the store gets busy during the holidays.
“People have to pre-order the cheese kielbasa for the holidays.”
The Garden Mediterranean Cafe in West Pittston, voted “Best Pastries” and “Best Healthy Meal” in the Best of Greater Pittson event sponsored by the Sunday Dispatch and the Times Leader, offered date and nut cookies, hummus and cheese baklava.
“It takes two days to make the cheese,” said Akram Ali, who owns the restaurant with his wife Jo Marie.
They also offered spinach pies, which sold out.
Members of the Old Forge Elementary School PTO made reindeer Rice Krispie treats, cookies, and cupcakes vended by Stacy Tryonas and her 8-year-old daughter Karissa.
“It puts you in the Christmas spirit with your family,” Karissa said about Snow Forge.
Snow Forge was started five years ago by a 10-person committee that would often travel to nearby towns such as Jim Thorpe to enjoy Christmas events.
“Our former mayor and committee member Bob Mulkerin thought ‘Why can’t Old Forge do this?’” said committee member Kelsey Renzi. “And, with that, our small 10-person committee filled of friends and Old Forge residents started planning Snow Forge.”
Snow Forge has grown since the first year when it offered just one horse-drawn wagon, one trolley, one craft for kids, and 20 vendors.
“Our attendance has increasingly grown since year one,” said Renzi. “Our first year we never thought people would come out and support our event like they did. It’s what makes living in a small town the greatest feeling. Everyone really pulls together and helps each other. Our main funding for our event comes from our Old Forge businesses and associations. Without them and the help of our summer fundraiser, our event would not be financially possible.”
The Snow Forge committee offered hot cocoa kits called “Snowman Soup” to children in the kid zone.
Renzi spoke on the behalf of the committee when she said, “Providing a free event for families during the Christmas season is one of the more rewarding things we could do for our community. Seeing the joy on kids’ faces while riding a horse-drawn wagon or when they are taking a picture with a live reindeer is priceless.”
Snow Forge concluded with a tree lighting ceremony.
