On Sunday children that went to the Okotoks Recreation Centre for a skate had a surprise. Jolly Old Saint Nick himself had put on a pair of skates and was on the ice.

He had a bag full of candy he was giving out to those who came to visit.

Jeanette Messer with the Recreation Centre says this is the 14th year Santa has came and laced up his skates.

"It's a really exciting event and it gets busier and busier every year." Messer says.

Busy it was, with parents sitting in the stands to watch their kids skate along with Santa.

Messer says usually the Skate with Santa sees around three hundred people, and this year she says they topped that.

"I think that we already had three hundred people on the ice and it was only the beginning which was fantastic."

Messer says that the best part of the Skate with Santa is the kids faces when they actually see and meet Santa.

"He is a great skater and has races with the children." Says Messer.

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