Margate Winter Festival Brings Joy and Togetherness

by David Volz December 22, 2024

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Hundreds of residents gathered in Margate Friday night to celebrate the annual Winter Festival, a cherished community tradition filled with holiday cheer.

Families enjoyed a festive evening with something for everyone: various food trucks offering dinner options, a chance to play in the snow or slide down a snow-covered hill, and live music by the Wonderama Band. Adding to the holiday magic, children and their families had the opportunity to visit Santa Claus, making memories to last a lifetime.

Margate resident Thetatiana Mendez brought her three sons to the festival. “My kids had a blast. This is a fun activity for Margate,” she said.

Meanwhile, volunteers like Donna Schmidt and Nina Culver, dressed as Mrs. Claus, spread joy by handing out free toys to children. “We want to help children in the community, and this is a positive event,” said Schmidt.

Among the attendees was Police Major Michael Druzbik, who came with his wife Rachel, a former Margate police officer, and their two children, Valentina, 5, and Sebastian, 1. “This was a great event, and we had a good time. We got dinner from one of the food trucks,” said Druzbik.

Elexis Gonzalez, another Margate resident, brought her two children, nieces and nephews to meet Santa. “I love coming to this event with my family, and we all had a good time tonight,” she said.

City leaders were also on hand to celebrate the festival’s success. Commissioner Anthony Caggiano expressed pride in the event’s turnout and holiday spirit. “We had a great turnout, and people had fun,” he said.

Commissioner Joanne Simone echoed his sentiments. “This event was wonderful for families,” she said.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.