The Joliet Park District is looking to bring children and their families together for its annual Breakfast with Santa.

Festivities at the Dec. 17 event at Hartman Recreation Center, 511 N. Collins St. in Joliet, get underway 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Hartman Recreation Center program coordinator Megan Williams said Breakfast with Santa is designed to please.

“We just wanted to find a fun, family, free event for the community,” she said.

The event will bring children and their families together not only for breakfast, but also arts and crafts, games and a coloring contest.

Santa will be on hand to visit with families, and for a small fee children can also get their pictures taken with him.

Williams said the event intends to entertain people of all ages.

“Everything’s family-oriented,” Williams said.

Williams said the holiday season serves as a great time for the Joliet Park District to hold events.

“We do various things throughout the holidays that are family-fun events,” she said, adding that Easter is also a big deal for them.

Breakfast with Santa typically brings in between 200 and 300 people.

Williams noted the event has grown in popularity over the years allowing the Joliet Park District to see good attendance.

“Each year, it varies,” she said. “If it’s super nice, it can be a lot more (people). Obviously, if it’s snowing, we still get a nice turnout.”

William said communication is key to the event’s success in attracting children and their families to the event. The Joliet Park District looks to promote Breakfast with Santa in a number of ways, she said.

“Returning families come to the event year after year,” she said. “They tell their families; they tell their friends. That helps, too.”

There is no registration required to attend Breakfast with Santa. People may drop in as they wish.