The Coon Valley Area Youth Foundation will once again be holding its annual Christmas party and shopping day, but with a little twist in 2008. Hoping to draw a larger number of children, and per request of a number of parents, the annual event traditionally held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving has been moved to Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Christmas party will take on a new adventure in 2008 entertaining participants from 1- 3 p.m. at the Coon Valley Village Hall before children are loaded on a bus and head for Riverside Park in La Crosse to visit with Santa Claus, and see the always spectacular Rotary Lights display.

At the village hall children will be entertained with movies, crafts, puzzles, story time, games and more, before departing for La Crosse. Children should be dressed accordingly with winter coats, hats and mittens for their visit with Santa and his beloved reindeer. If parents only want their children to attend the Christmas party at the village hall, and do not want them to travel to La Crosse, they will need to pick them up by 3 p.m.

Children attending the event will be treated to a kid’s meal at McDonald’s in La Crosse, besides receiving a number of other snacks and refreshments throughout the afternoon and early evening.

The Christmas party is free to everyone, including parents, who would like to help chaperone the event. The CVAYF is also holding a community food drive in conjunction with the event and requests donations of a nonperishable food item for the local food pantry.

For more information check out the CVAYF website at cvayf.com