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GBRC to host Santa’s Workshop Express Saturday
Santa's Workshop Express
Kailee Dougherty of Great Bend High School’s National Honor Society serves as one of Santa’s helpers at last year’s Santa’s Workshop Express. This year’s event will once again be a drive through-event held at the Great Bend Activity Center. - TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

The Great Bend Recreation Commission will transform the Activity Center at 2715 18th St. into Santa’s Workshop Express, Saturday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

This year’s annual event will be a drive-through outdoor holiday experience that will allow participants to enjoy Santa’s Workshop Express from the comfort of a vehicle.  Holiday guests will be greeted by Santa Claus, the Grinch and other festive characters and receive holiday goodie bags, while supplies last.  Children may drop off their letters to Santa, and families are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and dress in holiday attire. 

Santa’s letter templates can be found on the Great Bend Rec Facebook page.

GBRC coordinates Santa’s Workshop Express and Great Bend High School student organizations help in a variety of ways, said Activity Center/Enrichment Director Garet Fitzpatrick. “Student volunteers will be creating a fun holiday drive-through event for everyone.”

Staff from the Barton County Sheriff’s Department, Great Bend Fire/EMS Department, Great Bend Police Department, City of Great Bend and the City of Great Bend Street Department will assist.

In case of inclement weather, the event will not be held. Those interested in attending are advised to follow the Great Bend Rec Facebook page for any updated information.

Vehicles will enter off of Washington Avenue from the south, turning left onto 17th Street. Vehicles will then turn right onto Madison Street, then right again onto 18th Street traveling east. All vehicle stops will be along 18th Street on the north side of the Great Bend Activity Center. Tentatively, Fitzpatrick said there will be around five stations for vehicles to stop at; however, that could change based on both turnout and staffing levels on the day of the event.

Once finished at all the stations, vehicles will then exit the event by crossing Washington Avenue straight on 18th Street.

For more information about programs the Great Bend Rec offers, go the GBRC website, www.greatbendrec.com, or call the Recreation Commission office, 620-793-3755 ext. 110.

Fitzpatrick thanked the organizations and  businesses that donated for this year’s event, including  The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., Nex-Tech LLC, Equity Bank, Medical Park Pharmacy of Great Bend P.A., Farmers Bank and Trust, Kiwanis Club of Great Bend, Optimist Club of Great Bend, BTI of Great Bend, Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinkler Inc., Silverado Electric Inc., Mark’s Custom Signs, Great Bend Children’s Clinic P.A., Hammeke Electric Inc. and Eagle Communications.