For 24 years, Denise Carey has been involved in the annual Park City Holiday, which featured cookie decorations, face painting and a picture with Santa Claus.

And for the past 12 years that she has organized the event, this year was one of the most challenging, she said

“This year our budget was cut,” Carey told The Park Record. “I didn’t think we were going to be able to do it, but (Park City Recreation) still wanted something, even if it was just to have the kids come out to ice skate and visit with Santa.”

So Carey brainstormed with her staff to find ways to keep the Park City Holiday tradition alive. One thing she wanted was to keep it free of charge.

“This has always been a free event and we wanted to keep it that way,” she said.

After the meetings and brainstorms, Carey came up with the idea of finding sponsors.

“We don’t usually ask the community for help, but we decided to ask a couple of people to see if they would help us out,” she said. “And we were fortunate that they stepped up to bat for us.”

Starbucks, who has donated the hot chocolate the past four years, is still on for the event, Carey said.

“Also, B&B Landscape donated enough money for us to buy the cookies, icing and sprinkles from the Park City Market for the decorating,” she said. “And the Park City Market gave us a good deal, because we had to buy 500 cookies from them.

“You should see the amount of frosting some of the kids can pile on one cookie,” Carey said with a laugh. “It’s got to weigh at least five pounds.”

Also, Silver Star Ski and Sport donated money for candy canes and face-painting supplies.

“We will still have Police Chief Wade Carpenter do the face painting,” Carey said. “He wears his uniform and the kids just love it. He’s also actually a great face painter.”

The one thing that will be different this year is there will not be a photographer on site to take pictures of the kids with Santa, Carey said.

“We encourage everyone who comes to bring their own camera to take their own photos with Santa,” she said. “That way they can still preserve the memories.”

In addition to the face painting, cookie decorating and Santa Claus, the Park City Holiday 2010 will feature the Jeremy Ranch 5th Grade Choir and routines by the Figure Skating Club of Park City.

“The choir has grown the past few years,” Carey said. “Last year there were 100 singers, and this year we’re expecting the same. They sing for half an hour on the ice while the skaters perform.”

The Park City Holiday started 24 years ago in the Miner’s Hospital Community Center, explained Carey.

“We had a community Christmas tree put out front,” she said. “We would light the tree and ask people to bring a homemade ornament to decorate the tree. It was nice because we left the decorations up the whole season.”

The celebration moved to the Park City Ice Arena three years ago because the Miner’s Hospital was being renovated.

“It was good because we started offering free ice skating,” Carey said about the move. “And the ornaments changed because it got too much for the kids and parents to make their own.

“Now we provide a dated ornament where they can sign their name to keep it personal.”

Since moving to the arena, the event’s participants grew exponentially, Carey said.

“Last year we had 800 people come,” she said. “And we’re expecting around the same number to come this year.”

Seeing the support from the donors and the community warms Carey’s heart.

“It started out as a small tradition,” she said. “And I think it’s important, no matter how much we grow, to keep as many traditions as we can, especially during these hard times.

“I’m glad we will still be able to give the community something that they don’t have to pay for,” she said. “It means a lot because there are a lot of people who come. It’s still worth it to me.”

A Park City Holiday 2010, featuring ice skating, face painting and cookie decorating, will take place at the Park City Ice Arena, 600 Gillmor Way, on Dec. 14. Santa arrives at 5:30 p.m. and the Jeremy Ranch 5th Grade Choir and Figure Skating Club of Park City are also scheduled to perform. All activities are free.