Taylor Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand presents Santa Claus with a key to the city.
Santa and Mrs. Claus approach Santa’s Magic Forest, accompanied by Taylor Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand, his wife, Mishelle, and their daughter, Jillian.
Maria Vaughn (left), her husband, Jeff, and their daughter, Lily, are joined by others in a walk through Santa’s Magic Forest.
Alison Kilduff, a volunteer with Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, presents a prize to best Christmas costume winner Lily Vaughn, a 1-year-old Taylor girl. Accompanying Lily are her parents, Jeff and Maria Vaughn.
TAYLOR — The city’s holiday display opened in style recently with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by fire truck at Santa’s Magic Forest at the Heritage Park Activity Building.
The Clauses, accompanied by Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand and his family, paraded around Heritage Park and arrived to a throng of families, including many children. Truman High School cheerleaders were part of the parade.
Lamarand presented Santa with a key to the city, and both welcomed the crowd to Santa’s Magic Forest, which is open weekends through Dec. 20 and daily Dec. 21 through 23. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Hours are 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 21 through 23.
Organizers call the Magic Forest a magical winter wonderland of animated characters and scenes and beautiful holiday light displays. There is live entertainment, including holiday songs by area children and chorus groups.
Admission is $3, $2 for seniors and children 10 and younger. Rosecrans Picture Perfect Photography and Flowers will provide a photo opportunity with Santa and Mrs. Claus that will be available for purchase.
All proceeds from the forest benefit Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, a nonprofit organization that is operating the holiday display as a fundraiser to support its continued work of providing food and nourishment to those in need in Taylor and surround communities.
For more information on Santa’s Magic Forest, call the city’s Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation at (734) 374-3906. For more information on Fish & Loaves call (734) 442-0031 or go to www.downriverfishandloaves.org.