Elgin Parks and Recreation will host its annual "Winter Wonderland: Photos with Santa" event on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Elgin Recreation Center, city staff said.

Grace Perez, program coordinator for the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said the department "are taking over the whole rec this year," with photo opportunities, themed activity spaces and a special "cowboy Santa." Perez described a sequence of experiences for visitors: a selfie with a greeter elf, letter-writing and mailing to Santa, a visit with cowboy Santa, and a larger area called "Twinkle and Tinsel Town" where attendees can visit elf spaces, decorate cookies, customize hot cocoa and use multiple photo booths.

Perez said the event will include a children's dance area called the "peppermint pages," a camp-mindfulness activity, and expanded photo stations. "We are taking over the whole rec this year," she said, adding she expects the varied activities to appeal to families, youth and older adults who participate in Parks and Rec programming.

The department is recruiting volunteer elves to help run activities, serve as greeters, assist in the Santa studio and staff hot-cocoa or cookie stations. "We are actively recruiting for more elves," Perez said. Volunteers should email parks@elgantexas.gov with the subject line "volunteer for photos of Santa" to sign up.

For visitors new to Elgin, Perez gave directions: the recreation center is near the Walmart on Highway 95; the address is 361 North Highway 95. Perez also encouraged people to check the department's Facebook page, "Elgin TX Parks," or to visit the recreation center for more information about programming, classes and other events.

Stacy Ford Osborne, the city's acting public information officer, introduced the segment and thanked Perez at the close of the interview. The department did not specify ticketing, admission cost or registration deadlines in the interview; interested residents should contact Parks and Recreation directly for those details.