MORRIS COUNTY

'Snow & Ice Party' a hit in Mount Olive

Angela Sparandera
Correspondent

Mount Olive Township hosted a sold-out "Snow & Ice Party" on Sunday afternoon at the Mount Olive Senior Center. One hundred and eighty children and adults attended the first event sponsored by the Mount Olive Recreation Department, in partnership with Flanders Pediatric Dentistry.

Isabella Matullo, left, with Lauren Matullo, Valentina Matullo, Sophia Matullo and Veronica Matullo enjoy the Snow & Ice Party on Sunday.

Children enjoyed "Frozen" movie-themed activities including face painting, ice crown crafts, "Pin the Nose on Olaf" game, princess lessons, sing-a-longs and pictures with costumed Ice Princesses.

"Our goal for this event was for everyone, from child to adult, to truly enjoy themselves," said Laura Rimmer, marketing director for the Mount Olive Recreation Department. "We are a small team that works diligently to research ideas and make certain that our department keeps up with what is popular and engaging rather than simply what has been done before."

Families enjoy a Snow & Ice Party held at the Senior Center of Mount Olive on Sunday.

Tickets, which sold out quickly, were limited to 180 so every child could have enough time and space for each activity. Open to everyone, tickets for children were $15 and $5 for adults.

Ice Princesses Elsa and Anna, played by Lexie Daniel and Ellie Baker of Invite an Enchanted Princess, led the group of Frozen fans through a sing-a-long of "Let it Go," complete with dance moves. Each child reached for the sky as they "built" ice castles during the song.

Actresses Lexie Daniel, left, dressed as Elsa from the movie “Frozen,” and Ellie Baker, dressed as Anna, pose for photos at Mount Olive’s Snow & Ice Party on Sunday.

Dancers from Company B of Theater Dance Center in the Flanders section of Mount Olive helped children create crowns with sparkling pink and purple snowflakes.

"Everyone is coming in so excited and happy," said dance volunteer Tiffany Griff, 19, of Flanders.

Elsa and Anna addressed the crowd, asking them what their New Years' resolutions were, if they knew how to act like princesses, and sang "Do You Want to Build a Snowman."

Children also posed for pictures with their favorite princesses.

Skylar Sostak, 6, poses in costume at a Snow & Ice Party in Mount Olive.

"I love Elsa," said Ava Probus, 4, who came to the party dressed as a princess and accompanied by her parents Dennis and Gale.

"It's a really nice event," said Gale Probus.

Also helping with the event were local businesses attending as activity hosts including Invite An Enchanted Princess, Long Valley Pharmacy, Theater Dance Center, Sam's Club, and Hot Bagels Abroad. Girl Scout Troop 519 from Mount Olive also volunteered as servers and activity hosts.

5-year-old Viola Cockcroft has her face painted before the “Frozen” sing-along.

The Snow & Ice Party was the first sit-down luncheon party hosted by the township's recreation department. A lunch of chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese was served to the princesses and princes, and adults had grilled chicken and Caesar salad.

"The best part about today is the kids," said Ginette Gulick, owner of On Call Catering, as she passed out full plates of lunch from the kitchen.

"This event lets us get creative," said Rimmer. "Being the parents and grandparents to young children, we are very aware of how popular the Ice Princesses are and it was important to us that we offered our families the chance to celebrate that at an event which was priced within reason for families."

"We had so much fun. This was a great idea," said parent, Lauren Matullo, of Mount Olive.

The Mount Olive Recreation Department will host its next event in February, "Cabin Fever Reliever," with music, activities, food and games planned for children. The free family-friendly event will be held Feb. 21 and is open to the public.

For more information, visit http://mountolivetownship.com/recreation.html.