The Parks and Recreation department will attempt to lift the spirits of senior citizens with a Winter Wonderland at the Deptford Community Center on Dec. 15.
While similar in tone to the township’s tree lighting, the Winter Wonderland is game-oriented and caters to seniors.
“We’re doing it for them and to give back to them,” said Mayor Paul Medany, who will also welcome other council members to the event.
There will be hot chocolate served in the community center’s gymnasium, a dessert bar and Christmas music played throughout the evening by Lilly, of Lilly’s DJ Service, a local business that has entertained at other Deptford functions. Lilly will also host games and get people dancing.
“She is simply fantastic,” said Medany of the DJ. “She gets the crowd moving like I’ve never seen before. Three hundred people showed up to last year’s event, and 290 of them were dancing.”
This year marks the third senior Winter Wonderland, a successor to the township’s prior holiday event for seniors, a Christmas bus tour around Deptford to see decorated houses. That had to be canceled because of COVID, so the Parks and Recreation department had to think of something else.
“We always want to try new things,” said Medany. “The (parks and) rec department wanted to try this out, and it’s a fantastic evening.”
Other holiday events in Deptford will include the Christmas home decoration contest and pictures with Santa at the dog park on Dec. 17.
While the Winter Wonderland is free, attendees must RSVP ahead of time by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at (856) 845-0804 or emailing to [email protected]. Hours for the event are 6 to 8 p.m.
More information can be found on the township website and its municipal Facebook page.
“It’s all about the holiday spirit,” Medany noted. “It’s meant to help seniors get out, make new friends and raise their spirits.”
