April 25, 2024

Fore Seasons Candy Cane Hunt set for Sunday

Events aims to provide every child a toy

By Orrin Shawl

The Fore Seasons Golf Practice will host its annual Candy Cane Hunt beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday. Santa Claus will be in attendance and will have a toy for every child. (File Photo)

Candyland has nothing on Fore Seasons Golf in Newton.

The Third Annual Candy Cane Hunt with Santa is set for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the clubhouse, located at 6232 Highway S74. Kids will be set free in this decorated Christmas land to find candy bags hidden around the complex, as well as get their pictures taken with Santa.

Dawn Peters, owner of Fore Seasons, said repeat visitors will notice a few changes from last year’s event. Kids will be taking the hunt outside to find not only candy canes, but apples and oranges nestled in small paper bags. Also, the line to meet Santa will be sorted out by age groups, from youngest to oldest.

“We don’t want parents with small kids to have to wait. Last year, parents waited for two hours for their kids to get their toy,” Peters said. “This year, we’re doing it by age groups, so the babies and toddlers are set for one hour, and we go to the next age group, and the older age group goes last. We’re hoping that will streamline everything and parents won’t have to wait with screaming kids for so long.”

When adults and children arrive, they will see Santa sitting among Christmas trees, along with big boxes of toys and a long table with hot dogs, chips and cookies for everyone.

Hy-Vee has donated hot dogs for the hunt, the Newton VFW Post provided a large number of toys and customers of Fore Seasons who have donated toys and candy and cookies, Peters said. Each child who attends the event will leave with a toy.

“Really, our customers have come through,” Peters said. “Of course, VFW used to do some sort of event where they gave toys to kids. They actually provide a huge majority of the toys that are given away.”

The event’s first year served 30 kids. The second year, Fore Seasons partnered with VFW for the first time and had 250 kids. This year, Peters is hoping to get 300-plus with the VFW’s help again.

In addition, a professional photographer, Kylee Modlin, will be on hand for the pictures with Santa, Peters said. Photos will be available for purchase from Modlin’s website scenicroutephotography.net.

Peters said she hopes this event will help kids who usually don’t get holiday presents a chance to fill that void.

“I think people appreciate the fact that we have gone the extra mile to provide these things for kids that normally get no toys under the Christmas tree this year,” Peters said. “We’re pretty proud that we’re doing it and providing this for the children and the community.

“Whatever you get, you get to take home with you,” Peters added. “Every child will get a toy.”

Contact Orrin Shawl at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or at oshawl@newtondailynews.com