WAPAKONETA, OH (WLIO) - Whether they were 2 or 72, everybody was able to be a child on Saturday at the Children's Hometown Holiday.
Elaine Poppe started the Children's Hometown Holiday because she wanted to make sure that all kids had a great holiday memory. Over the years, the event has grown to around 4,000 visitors in downtown Wapakoneta. There were nearly 80 characters that had treats, and Santa Claus arrived during the parade, to hand out presents to the kids. It takes around 400 hundred volunteers to put on the free event that is creating a lot of memories.
“And it’s also good for the merchants because they get to show off what they can do too. At each of the merchants, most of the merchants are giving away treats or they are giving away candy or something so the kids have the opportunity to go into the store. When the parents go in, if they haven’t been in yet, can get acquainted with the business and that’s good for the business.”
The Children's Hometown Holiday is celebrating its 17th year and will wrap up on Sunday with a Breakfast with Santa at the Wapakoneta Knights of Columbus hall from 8 am. to noon.
