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Brayden Withers right, had fun looking at the differnt ornaments on the Christmas tree with Mrs. Claus. — Karen Kistler

Holden Fisher, left, shares with Santa Claus what he wants him to bring for Christmas. — Karen Kistler

Heidi Cross, right holds her dog Fluffy as she talks with Mrs. Claus at the Smart Start Rowan breakfast event. — Karen Kistler

Wyatt Reynolds, left, gives Boone a pet as he visit with him and Judy Klusman, who said she was Boone’s elf. — Karen Kistler

Matthew Martinez, right, gets some help making an ornament from Nathan Flores in Santa’s Workshop. — Karen Kistler

Elijah Serrano, right, gives Santa a high-five after his visit with him. — Karen Kistler

Preparing to make a craft are, from left, Monica, Sophia and Christian Rivera. — Karen Kistler

Sharing their Christmas wishes with Santa are siblings, from left, Phillip, Avyanna, Stormie, Maxzene and Jayden Sherrill, along with mom, Destiny Sherrill. – Karen Kistler

Getting their photo taken are from left, Sydney Holmes, Ellery Holmes on the lap of Sandra Poole, Katelynne Simpson and Jace Simpson. – Karen Kistler

Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development, left, and Julie Gragg, chat during the Breakfast With Santa. — Karen Kistler

SALISBURY — Whether it was children telling their wish list to Santa, sharing secrets with Mrs. Claus or enjoying time with family, smiles and excitement were evidence that all were having fun at this year’s Smart Start Rowan Breakfast With Santa.

The event, held Dec. 14 at Trinity Oaks, is free and was open to everyone with birth to age five children in Rowan County on a first come, first served reservation basis, said Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development. She added that once the event was posted, spots were filled up in less than two hours.

“We keep it limited so it doesn’t get overwhelming, and a lot of times kids that maybe have some sensory issues, that helps them as well so it’s not too much stimulation,” she said.

Smart Start Rowan’s Breakfast With Santa has been held for six years beginning in 2017 with a break during COVID. Heinke said she starts planning for the event months ahead so that it runs smoothly, plus they try to add something new each year. 

“We want to enhance it as much as we can each year but keep it true to what it’s about,” she said.

This year’s added feature was having Mrs. Claus there in the kitchen room talking with families as they came to get breakfast. 

It was fun talking with them, Mrs. Claus said, adding that the children had been telling her what they had been doing to get ready for Christmas, about putting up their trees, the programs at school they had done and the secret packages they had hidden for their parents.

Mrs. Claus, aka Celia Jarrett, was there for the first time in that role, but she definitely knew about the event and Smart Start as her mom, Dr. Shirley Ritchie, was among those who founded Partners in Learning.

It was back in the ’90s, Jarrett said, that her mom “saw a need to make sure that all our early education children were receiving the quality care that they deserve and so she and other members of the community got together and started Partnership for Children, which later became Smart Start when the state rolled out the Smart Start in the late ’90s.”

In addition to the Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, other areas where children and their families could visit during the morning was the North Pole, where they could visit with Santa Claus and have their picture taken with him and share their Christmas list and Santa’s Workshop where visitors could make ornaments with helpers on hand to assist them.

Also at the event to greet children was therapy dog, Boone. Judy Klusman said she was Boone’s elf and they were there to “celebrate and greet.”

Boone, a Labradoodle, is a rescue from the Rowan County Animal Shelter, visits the library and nursing homes, Klusman said, adding that “he’s friendly and loves everyone” and the children were enjoying giving him some love.

“Trinity Oaks has been wonderful with letting us have it here,” said Heinke.

Jarrett also shared how generous they were at Trinity Oaks for hosting the event and serving as the caterer.

Heidi Cross was there in her puppy slippers, holding her stuffed puppy Fluffy and chatting with Mrs. Claus. She and her mom were getting ready to get some breakfast and said she was hoping for bacon.

“I love bacon,” she said with a big smile.

Heidi also said that she had visited with Santa and had asked for a new scooter because she had grown out of her old one.

While getting photos taken with Santa, Ellery Holmes and Jace Simpson told Santa what they wanted for Christmas and when asked what was the most fun thing they had done, Ellery’s mom Sydney Holmes said, “making ornaments, being with family and celebrating Christmas.”

Maxzene Sherrill, who was there with her mom and four siblings, said that for her, being able to see Santa was fun for her.

Little Brayden Withers was having fun looking at all the ornaments on the Christmas tree with Mrs. Claus. His mom Ashley Withers said that they wanted to come to this event and have some run. She said they were part of the Kaleidoscope Play and Learn program that Smart Start offers and said they are “always joining the KPL events.”

The breakfast is one of four major events they offer every year, said Heinke, people look forward to it.

She said it was “wonderful and we love that we keep it small enough that the families are able to relax, to feel like Christmas morning, having their breakfast leisurely in their pajamas and they can go and make a craft, take it home, have some one-on-one time with Santa where they’re not rushed through. It’s very important to us to have that experience to keep it special enough that they will remember it.”