Children make holiday crafts at fishing shop

By Ashley Livingston

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 | midnight

Glistening snow littered the ground the weekend after Thanksgiving as elves busied themselves assisting Santa, tending to toy trains and helping make ornaments.

The snow may be fake and the elves all Bass Pro Shops' employees in disguise, but the scene that will be presented at the local sporting goods store every day until Christmas still makes for a pretty convincing winter wonderland.

During the third in a series of weekend crafts that previously featured pine cone ornaments and paper chains, children sat down at pint-sized tables with glue sticks tackling the task of turning fishing bobbers into Santas.

Seven-year-old Tasi Vassiliou giggled as she glued cotton balls to the white half of her red and white bobber.

"I like them, they're really fun," she said with a smile.

Silverado resident Joanne Gencic said she decided to bring Tasi and her friend Gia, also 7, to the store after hearing about the activities.

Aside from the free craft-making activities on the weekends, the store is also featuring free photos with Santa, a free go-round with a remote control car and child-friendly target practice with toy guns and toy crossbows.

Attendees can also color pictures and write letters to Santa.

Angelina Castillo, 7, said it was her second weekend visit to the shops and that the first time she was out she wrote a letter to Santa. "I told him I wanted lipstick, make up and a doll," she said.

"She also told him she's going to leave him some cookies and milk," said her mother, Summerlin-area resident Joanna Castillo.

Bass Pro Shops Promotions Manager Virginia Boswell said the goal of store owner John L. Morris in bringing the winter wonderland to his stores is to bring people back to a time when Christmas was easier and help them focus on the magic of the holiday.

It also gives parents an opportunity to sit down and do something fun with their kids, she said.

Children and their parents, however, haven't been the only ones enjoying the holiday activities.

Store employee and temporary wonderland elf Charli Knight said she has had a great time manning activities.

"It's great. I love working with the kids," she said. "I feel like a kid again."

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].