(Photo Provided by Liz McKinley, Warsaw Parks Recreation Director)

The Warsaw Parks And Recreation Department hosted a Christmas Countdown event from 6 p.m. to 8 pm. Friday Dec. 12, at Center Lake Pavilion.

The event offered children an assortment of fun activities. The first 400 children to attend the event were offered free goody bags. In addition, guests were able to enjoy crafts and small goodies such as bracelets, crayons and coloring kits.

Each child received a stuffed bear and had the chance to visit with Santa, allowing parents to take advantage of the photo op. Hot cocoa, homemade Christmas cookies, graham crackers and chocolate was offered. Children could make marshmallow pop treats, play reindeer rack ring toss games, enter a drawing for a homemade gingerbread house or try to guess how many chocolate Hershey Kisses filled a large jar in order to win the jar.

Music played while children visited with Santa. The event also had a special visit from the Special Olympics Paw Bear in honor of the upcoming Polar Plunge to be held Feb. 21, at Center Lake.