Frostburg’s 15th Annual Storybook Holiday

Saturday, December 1st was Frostburg City’s 15th Annual Storybook Holiday brought to the town by the Children’s Literature Center. This was an event that began in December with lots of holiday cheer and really brought the community together to share in performances, festivities and activities around town.

The event began bright and early with a Breakfast with the Elves, a fun event for families to eat with Santa’s elves and encourage a month of good behavior for the little ones. Then, due to weather, the Parade had to be cancelled and other outside activities were held in the Armstrong Insurance Garage where the Elf Olympics began. Teams from around the community competed in a cookie toss, decorating a tree, present wrapping and unwrapping and the final competition was holiday riddles. Why do Prancer and Dancer like coffee? Look to the end to find out!

After the Elf Olympics, Mountain City Center for the Arts performed as well. Beginning with a musical number, and a tap number, they also included the classic, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, or Supercal for short, and ended with, There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays. Their troupe had performers who were 6 years old to 17 years old, all of them very talented.

Over at the community library, it was time for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, local dogs were brought in and young kids would sit with them and practice their reading, bonding with an animal and furthering their education is a gift within itself. All of the dogs, young and old, were very excited to meet so many kids and were all very kind, maybe they were able to learn a thing or two as well! As we walked back to the garage, many stores were labeled as being a, ‘sticker shop’,kids would go in and get a sticker from each shop to compete for a prize in the end. Within the shops, there were also booths set up from local farmers, and crafts for the kids. Arriving at the garage, it was time for Frostburg’s Dance Academy to perform. This performance was also full of a wide range of ages and equally entertaining, dancing hip-hop to lyrical, it was very engaging and well done.

Across the street at CityPlace, the Elve’s Secret Workshop had opened, you could write a letter to Santa, have a photo with an elf, admire a miniature train display, and peruse the craft vendors present. It was very decorated and very immersive with the holiday spirit. At the Frostburg Community Center, author Colleen Driscoll was presenting, Piper the Elf Trains Santa, and she would also be signing books as well. There was a cookie contest, face painting and balloon animals at the American Legion, Cocoa with the PoPo, and specials being offered in stores and restaurants. This Storybook Holiday was an event of the community and was jam packed with activities and holiday cheer.
As the day was coming to an end there was the Festival of the Trees where kids were able to meet Santa, the cookie contest winners were announced and the Arion Band performed. After all of the activity through the day, you could come to a rest and enjoy, It’s a Wonderful Life, at the Palace Theatre surrounded by friends and family. The Storybook Holiday is a truly wonderful event that brings the community together each year. It is a place to showcase talents and the city of Frostburg itself. Thank you to the Children’s Literature Centre, all the volunteers, the Elves, the performers and the businesses involved throughout the day, it was a wonderful event that will be looked forward to for next year!