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Party In The Park Celebrates Holiday

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune Correspondent

Published: December 19, 2007

THONOTOSASSA - Sitting under a pavilion with children on his lap, Santa Claus was comfortable and out of the elements while children relayed their wishes.

A steady, light drizzle might have dampened the festivities but not the holiday spirit.

More than 1,000 guests braved an approaching cold front Dec. 15 to meet and greet Santa, eat a hot dog and play games at the annual Thonotosassa Main Street Holiday Party.

Her children sitting with Santa, Robyn Burton found, in addition to the hot dogs and games, another bonus.

"The best thing is you can get the pictures of your kids with Santa. It costs $15 for these at the mall," said Burton, who moved to Thonotosassa from Nashville, Tenn., two years ago.

This was the second year the Thonotosassa Civic Association held the festival at the 4-acre Thonotosassa Park, redeveloped in 2005 and featuring a 624-square-foot gazebo.

As she watched children pick a donated new toy from a bin next to Santa, Ann Fabel, civic association vice president, said she was excited to see how much the holiday party had grown. In its first year, the civic association fixed enough food for about 250 people, and nearly 500 showed up. This year, through donations, the 200-member association had enough hot dogs, coleslaw and drinks for 1,000.

"We wanted to do something for the community, and we thought the Christmas celebration would be a nice way to bring the community out," she said.

While children bounced around a moonwalk or got their faces painted, adults chatted or ate sitting at park benches or picnic tables. The entertainment featured a choral performance by the Thonotosassa United Methodist Church.

Helping at the Santa line, Tom Waters, a Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation site leader, said the department likes to do outreach programs across the county, particularly in rural areas.

"Some of these kids might not get anything for Christmas but what we're giving them," he said.

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