FSU’s Children’s Literature Centre Hosts 20th Annual Storybook Holiday

The 20th annual Storybook Holiday celebration, hosted by Frostburg State University’s Children’s Literature Centre, will bring its seasonal cheer to downtown Frostburg on Saturday, Dec. 2. The festivities will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end with a showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 7:30 p.m.

The event welcomes all ages and features a parade, storybook readings and many more family-friendly activities. In addition, attendees will have the chance to meet Santa and children’s book author and illustrator, Will Hillenbrand. All events are free with the exceptions of Breakfast With the Elves and the evening movie.

The day’s events begin with Breakfast With the Elves at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. in Hotel Gunter at 11 W. Main St. Tickets are $8 for children and $14 for adults and will be sold in advance at the hotel.

This year, Cocoa With the Po-Po will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. and then again from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Frostburg Police Department at 37 S. Broadway.

Following breakfast, elves will compete against one another in the Elf Olympics at the Broadway parking lot from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. After the friendly competition, attendees can head over to the parade kickoff performance of Mountain City Center for the Arts in front of Hotel Gunter at 10:15 a.m. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m., following Run Your Bells Off for Autism, a charity fun run.

Carriage rides will be offered this year from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Place at 14 Water St. Also beginning at 11:30 a.m., and lasting until 2:30 p.m., the Kids’ Elf Training Academy will be held in the City Place parking lot at Water and Mechanic streets.

Seasonal activities and attractions will be available at City Place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., including Elves’ Secret Workshop, Letters to Santa and Photo With an Elf.

Other attractions include Sticker Stops and business specials in the Main Street area. Children can visit the Miniature Railroad Display at 10 Mechanic St., Santa’s House in P.S. Hair Design at 20 S. Broadway and craft vendors in the Armstrong Insurance garage at 21 S. Water St.

Hillenbrand will give a presentation and sign copies of his book, “Little Red,” which is dedicated to the city of Frostburg, at the Hotel Gunter from 1 to 2 p.m. The book can be purchased at the presentation, as well as at Main Street Books at 2 E. Main St. Cookie kits will be distributed to each child attending the presentation.

Later, the Jack Frost Neighborhood Snowball Toss will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. throughout residential streets, followed by the Festival of Trees from 6 to 7 p.m. at City Place, which includes the lighting of the trees, a performance by the Arion Band and the arrival of a special visitor.

Storybook Holiday comes to a close at 7:30 p.m. with a showing of the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Palace Theatre at 31 E. Main St. Tickets are $5 a person and are pre-sold at Main Street Books.

In addition to FSU’s Children’s Literature Centre, Storybook Holiday is sponsored by the city of Frostburg, FrostburgFirst, Somerset Trust Company, M&T Bank and Edward Jones.

For more information, contact the Children’s Literature Centre at 301-687-3133 or clc@frostburg.edu, or check the webpage at www.frostburg.edu/clc/storybookholiday. Updates can also be found at www.facebook.com/clcfsu.