Saturday will be a busy day for the Riverfront Community Center and Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Department, from breakfast with Santa to Christmas shopping and entertainment to fireworks.
It all starts with the annual Breakfast with Santa and the Riverfront Community Center. Chris Cakes will be flipping flapjacks as children visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and tell them what they want for Christmas. The children will be able to dance with Rudolph, Frosty and Santa's Elves.
Breakfast with Santa will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Entertainment will be provided by Katie's Dance Studio. Advance ticket sales are $5 for adults, $4 for children and are available at the front desk of the center. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the breakfast for $6 adults and $5 for children.
Starting at 9 a.m. will be the annual German Christmas Market presented by St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in the Riverfront’s gym. Thirty-five vendors will be on hand, along with local entertainment, German cuisine, children activities, a silent auction and more. St. Nikolas and the Christ Kind will also make an appearance. The market will be open until 7 p.m. There is no admission charge to the market.
At noon, Parks and Recreation will be at the High Noon Salon for Rudolph's Red Nose Run, a 7.2-mile run from The High Noon Salon through the Eisenhower Veterans Affairs Medical Center and back. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. Late walk-in registration begins at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 through race day at the High Noon.
At the end of Saturday will be the annual Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade with fireworks. The parade starts at Haymarket Square at 5:30 p.m. and concludes near the Riverfront Community Center.
At 6:30 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive at the Landing Park behind the center and help light the Mayor's Christmas tree. Live performers and singing will fill the air as fireworks are set off across the Missouri River. Songbooks will be provided by Kansas Media One and the fireworks are sponsored by the city of Leavenworth.
