Costa Mesa’s winter wonderland

Lolita Harper

She’s seen them in line to buy milk, at the post office and school

functions, but Rosy Salazar said she never felt a connection to her

neighbors like she felt Saturday during the city’s winter celebration

at Balearic Community Center.

“Look how nice it is,” Salazar said pointing to the groups of

smiling faces. “There are so many nice families out here having fun.

It really captures the feeling of community.”

Salazar said she had lived in Costa Mesa for 10 years but never

before attended the city-sponsored snow day celebration. The mother

of two heard about it from a friend and decided to bring along her

two nieces, Erica and Alex Becerra.

Salazar and her 2- and 5-year-old nieces were taking a break from

the various activities to sit on the grass -- that was not covered in

snow -- for a quick snack. The trio watched as other children, and

adults alike, delighted in toboggan rides, snow ball fights, pictures

with Santa, arts and crafts, entertainment, music and all the

fun-loving rowdiness that results with high energy children and lots

of green grass.

Erica, the 2-year-old, said her favorite part of the winter

celebration was the hay rides. Her aunt said she shrieked excitedly

as the horse-drawn wagon bumped along its course. Erica also gave her

nod of approval to the popcorn in her hand that she was eating by the

fist full.

Salazar said she was glad she heard about the event this year and

would be sure to remember it in the future.

“This is really fun,” she said. “We are going to come back every

year.”

Best friends Nathan Brown and Jeffrey Turney couldn’t be bothered

with sedentary activities like snacking or drawing, they were there

to hit the slopes -- literally.

Each bundled in thick winter jackets, the two 7-year-old boys

gripped the handles of the toboggan as they careened down the

hillside. It was hard to tell whether it was Nathan or Jeffrey

pulling at the sled -- or a combination of efforts -- that sent the

two boys flying but whatever the cause, the duo landed sideways on

the snow with a thud.

The crowd of onlookers gathered at the bottom of the slope gave a

collective “Oh!,” which quickly turned into a hearty laugh as both

boys bounced up without a scratch.

“We got good air on that one,” Nathan turned and said to Jeffrey

as he ran back for more.

Nathan and Jeffrey said “sledding” was their favorite activity of

the day. The long line couldn’t move fast enough for them but it did

provide ample time to strategize more creative “jumps,” as they

called them.

Fear of injury is not an issue for either boy because it doesn’t

hurt when you fall in the snow, the two explained.

“It was cold and fun,” Jeffrey said of his tumble.

Plus, the thrill of successfully landing a jump every now and then

is worth a little roughing-up, they said.

Whether visitors enjoyed a mellow afternoon under the sun or a

fast-paced frozen ride, the Costa Mesa Winter Celebration was

designed to bring residents together to celebrate the season.

The city-sponsored tradition was one that faced extinction because

of the costs. Parks and recreation commissioners said they dug into

city coffers and garnered help from private companies, such as

Torreli Realtors, because Costa Mesa deserves community building

activities and it is just plain fun.