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’Children’s Wonderland’ transports kids to a world of festivity and fun

On Friday afternoon, Nov. 25 the Stettler Agriplex parking lot was crowded with cars, instead of the usual trailers, as community...
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Kids get a sleigh ride with Jim and his Clydesdales

On Friday afternoon, Nov. 25 the Stettler Agriplex parking lot was crowded with cars, instead of the usual trailers, as community members brought their kids to "Children's Wonderland."

With plenty of indoor fun activities, the kids had a visit with Santa and Mrs. Santa and could get a picture with them. Outside there were sleigh rides with Jim.

If anyone has been in Stettler long enough they would have had a sleigh ride with his Clydesdales, Lou and Bud.

"I've been doing this for a long, long time," said Jim, as he waited that afternoon for OK Tire to get him going again. After doing a few rides, one of the wagon tires had gone down, which had stalled the joyrides.

The kids had started to queue already in excitement but they had to wait a while longer and got themselves busy inside with face painting, reading and other activities instead.

"Just a little while back I gave the fifth generation of a Stettler family a ride," Jim added. "They came to the town in 1903 or around that time they said. I've known their parents and grandparents."

Inside, at the entrance selling raffle tickets of $10 each was Rita Mielke, who had volunteered for more than a decade at the Festival of Lights.

The raffle tickets had three prizes, worth $1,000, $650 and $350.

"I think it's just amazing how much the community supports this event," Mielke said. "I love the community engagement during the week, because it just goes to show how important the hospital is to us."