Party in the Park Has the White Stuff

With temperatures in the mid-60s, the weather outside was anything but frightful throughout Sunday.

But thanks to the Calabasas Community Services Department, the fifth annual Snow, Snow, Snow event at Gates Canyon Park had those in attendance singing, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”

“The weather couldn’t be more perfect,” said Jeff Rubin, recreation supervisor for the city.

“There should be no problems with the snow melting during our three- or four-hour time slot.”

This was in sharp contrast to the event in 1995, when temperatures in the mid-90s quickly turned the snow into slush, said Rubin. He said between 1,500 and 2,000 people were expected to attend Sunday’s event.

About 25 tons of artificial snow were spread out and tightly packed over a small bank, creating a 30-foot sleigh-ride course. Young children and adults alike slid down the snow-covered bank on skid boards, trash-can tops, inflatable tubes, cardboard boxes and other makeshift sleds.

An additional 5 tons of loosely packed snow near the park entrance created the perfect playground for children to make snowmen and ammunition for snowball fights.

At a cost of $100 per ton, the snow was provided by the North Hollywood Ice Co., which used a large snow gun to convert chunks of ice into a temporary winter wonderland.

The event also featured an arts and crafts booth, where children created reindeer necklaces, refrigerator magnets, wooden farm animals and “bottle people”--jars filled with colored sand topped with furry heads and cartoon faces.

But all activities were temporarily halted with the arrival of Santa Claus, who was flown in by helicopter.

Children posed for photos with St. Nick as Ralph Lee Moss provided background music on 12-string guitar and harmonica.

Wrapping up the event was a concert by the City Slickers, a band featuring Community Services Director Greg Johnson and City Manager Charles Kates, who performed classic holiday tunes and contemporary songs.