AUBURN - With a covering of fresh white snow and the pond frozen over, the feeling of Christmas couldn't have been more in the air at Hoopes Park in Auburn Saturday afternoon for the annual holiday weekend celebration.

The celebration, sponsored by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, has been a tradition for six years now and is designed to be a fun way for families to gather and get ready for Christmas Day with a few simple reminders of what the day and the season are really all about: family and being together with those people to truly enjoy the spirit of the season.

John Bell, of Auburn, along with his wife, Nikole, two youngest sons, Brice, 8, and Ethan, 2, with another, Noah, on the way, were among the many families that made their way to the park Saturday afternoon.

"I think this is just fantastic," John said. "This is our first time coming out to this, but I think it is a great idea, especially for the kids."

Nikole, echoed her husband's sentiments.

"I think this is awesome," Nikole said. "The boys really loved it."

Inside the clubhouse, aside from food and warm drinks, was special guest: Santa.

Brice and Ethan were both eager to sit and chat with the big man with Christmas just a few days away.

Sonny Cencchini has been filling in as Santa's surrogate for the past three years and said that he has loved every minute of it.

"Jerry DelFavero (superintendent of public works) asked me to do the ho-ho-hos," Cencchini said. "It makes the kids happy and I like to see the smiles on their faces."

Cencchini's portrayal of the jolly old elf had many children happy and excited to talk to Santa.

Brian Crary, 3, of Auburn, was among the many young children that came to tell Santa their Christmas wishes and get a couple of candy canes, too.

Brian, who was with his grandmother, Mary Dann and his mother, Kim Crary, walked away happy to have talked with Santa. As were his mother and grandmother.

"He is the best Santa I've ever seen," Dann said. "I think he did a great job, and he asks all the right questions, and Brian was really happy to talk to him."

Mark Peters, owner of Coffee Host, has been doing concessions at the event since its inception.

Inside the clubhouse he was serving up coffee, hot chocolate and hot dogs to keep guests warm from the chill outside.

Over the past several years, Peters has seen the celebration be quite successful for creating the right atmosphere for the holiday spirit.

"I think this is a great thing to do for the community," Peters said. "Some years they get the kids form the schools to sing and decorate and there are usually a lot of people here. But this is a beautiful facility and everyone seems to have a really good time every year."

Outside, young guests, like Aiden Archer, 3, of Auburn, were enjoying some time playing in the snow after seeing Santa and taking part in one of the main attractions of the afternoon, a horse-drawn carriage ride around the park.

K-Crete, based in Moravia, was on hand with horses and the carriage, to add to the holiday tradition.

Aiden and his mother, Cassie, were both excited to be able to walk to the park, even on such a cold day and find such a warm, welcoming and festive atmosphere waiting for them.

"I think it is wonderful," Cassie said. "He said he wanted to go on a sleigh ride and it is so nice it is right here. We just live around the corner so we could walk over and go for a ride and he could see Santa. I think this is just a wonderful event."