The Snowflake Castle returned to Westerville this year, to the delight of young and old alike. The event provides wholesome family fun, as children learn to assemble simple toys made of wood.
The Snowflake Castle has been a Westerville tradition for 35 years and is more popular than ever. The event stretches over nine days, and approximately 3,000 children took part in the fun, which was held at the Everal Barn, an event center.
Grown up ‘elves’, dressed in appropriate costumes, help the children pound nails and drill holes as they assembled their toys. Volunteers have been preparing for the event for months, cutting out and sanding the pieces that comprise the wooden toys since last summer. Over 20 of the elves also volunteer to work each shift.
In addition to chasing the ‘snow’ that falls from the rafters, and working on assembling and painting their toys, children and their parents had a chance to meet both Santa and Mrs. Claus and take photos with them. Banner printing can be used to both promote events like these, or as festive decorations too.
According to Lyn Kiger, who is a supervisor for the city's recreation programs, the secret to the Snowflake Castle's success is simple: not only is it a wholesome event for the whole family, it is simple and has not been commercialized.
