"A Children's Holiday at Santa Fe" Is Dec. 6, 2014, in the Fine Arts Hall

December 4, 2014

A celebration of sweets in dance, frolicking elves, multicultural winter holiday songs, a visit from Santa Claus, and the chance to create crafts and enjoy cookies and punch-what child could resist the charm of "A Children's Holiday at Santa Fe"? The event takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in the Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville, Florida 32606.

"'A Children's Holiday' is a popular event so we encourage people to get tickets in advance," said Cultural Programs Coordinator Kathryn Lehman.

Children 12 and under are admitted free and there must be at least one adult for every three children. Adult tickets are $15 in the orchestra and mezzanine, $12 in the balcony, and may be purchased at www.sfcollege.edufinearts. Call the Box Office at 352-395-4181 to reserve free tickets for children.

"This holiday celebration has a quick pace, so the children love it-and there might even be snow!" said Fine Arts Department Chairperson Alora Haynes, whose long-held vision of a holiday event for young people was made possible after the Fine Arts Hall was completed in 2011.

The diverse, high-energy program will feature members of the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe in a celebration of sweets from all over the world. Children will thrill to dancers in the Kingdom of Sweets-ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy-with chocolate from Spain, tea from China, coffee from Arabia, candy canes from Russia, and Mother Caramel and her marshmallows.

The Santa Fe Singers will perform a selection of multicultural winter holiday songs, including a Hanukkah song.

Silly, frolicking elves will enliven the proceedings and a visit from Santa Claus will add to the excitement.

After the program, children will gather in the lobby to create winter holiday crafts including ornaments and dreidels and enjoy cookies and beverages with Santa, the elves, and other characters in the show.

"This fun event for children and their families is Santa Fe College's gift to our community," explained Lehman. "It's heartwarming to see young people so thrilled by the holiday celebrations."

"A Children's Holiday at Santa Fe" is sponsored by the SF College Fine Arts Department; the SF College Foundation and Arts Patron program; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Gateway Grand Best Western; and WCJB TV-20, Gainesville.

For more information, call Alora Haynes at 352-395-5296 or Kathryn Lehman at 352-395-5355.

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