BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—It was cold outside, but the holiday spirit was burning bright!
On Dec. 8, the Englewood Cliffs Recreation Department hosted its annual Winter Holiday Party. From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Community House on Hudson Terrace became a winter wonderland.
Englewood Cliffs residents and their families flocked to the party, where they enjoyed ice skating, music, horse-drawn carriage rides and a crafts table where youngsters and their parents made beautiful tree ornaments.
A popular attraction was the large ice skating rink provided by Party Perfect. A wonder of modern ingenuity, the rink was made from plastic sprayed with a silicone surface that enabled skaters to glide as smoothly as they would on real ice. Skates were given out free of charge for the party.
There were also delicious treats for everyone—hot chocolate and trays of cookies were set out on tables.
And, of course, no holiday party would be complete without a visit from Santa.
The jolly old soul arrived in an Englewood Cliffs fire engine, with flashing lights.
As soon as Santa emerged from the fire truck, he ran over to hug and give high fives to dozens of delighted youngsters.
On the other end of the festival area, children and their parents took turns riding around the nearby streets in a huge sleigh drawn by two Clydesdale horses that were especially brought in from Kafka Stables in Watchung.
The grand finale of the Winter Wonderland festival was the lighting of a large fir tree adjacent to the Municipal Building. It was a fitting end to another fun-filled Englewood Cliffs event.