PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Bill Dalton, left, and Peter Rossetti set up the Christmas tree in the gazebo at the Breakheart Reservation’s visitor center.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Santa Claus will be the special guest at this year’s annual Tree Decorating event at Breakheart Reservation. Families will trim the tree at the park from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Participants can bring Christmas ornaments or other decorative items to add to the 9-foot tree inside the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center, said Peter Rossetti, chairman of the Friends of Breakheart. The group, which is hosting the event, has strung lights in preparation.
ALSO: Item Santa’s mailbox overflows with hope
“If parents want to bring their children, the kids can either bring an ornament or create one there,” Rossetti said.
“We will have some craft projects for the kids to do. If they want to create an ornament, they can. They’ll also be able to make jingle bell bracelets.”
The event is free but the Friends welcome donations to support similar events. Canned goods also will be collected and given to the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, which serves more than 250 local families.
The spring and summer months are the most popular for the 652-acre state park, but activities continue throughout the colder months that attract a different crowd.
The Pearce Lake Beach opens on Memorial Day and draws 500 to 1,000 people to the park each day. It’s also used for dog walking, jogging, hiking, biking, fishing and other warm weather hobbies.
During the colder months, the community gathers for a Fall Festival and, later, maple sugaring begins.
A Turkey Trot earlier this month brought 120 runners to the park; a guided hike on New Year’s Day attracts more than 100 people; and the Tree Decorating event typically brings in about 50 people, Rossetti said.
“In between all of the events, there are hikes led by the rangers,” he said. “There are various classes that we try to put on, like looking for animal tracks in the snow. There’s a lot of activity up there. People come in for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.”
The visitor center remains open throughout the winter from 9 a.m. to dusk. Park visitors can warm up by the fireplace and sip coffee or use the facility’s restrooms.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte