For the past 16 years, the Community Arts Center has hosted the annual Skip Hunsinger Holiday Spectacular – an afternoon of holiday cheer, presents, and entertainment. Made possible through the efforts of the Hunsinger family and the Community Arts Center Volunteer Corps, this wonderful local tradition continues on December 10, 2023, as the Arts Center once again opens its doors to the community to celebrate.

The free event, open to children ages 5-10, will feature a screening of Kung Fu Panda Holiday, a visit from Santa Claus, and an opportunity for area children to win one of twelve grand prizes purchased through generous donations to the Spectacular fund. Free gifts will be given to the first 300 children, and each child who attends will receive a raffle ticket eligible to be drawn by Santa for the grand prizes–including toys, video game systems, and other amazing gifts. Children will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa!

This annual holiday tradition began in 2007, when the late Skip Hunsinger and current CAC volunteer Frank Missigman joined forces to reinvent a downtown Williamsport holiday tradition that they had enjoyed growing up in the mid-20th century. The original event, sponsored by the AFL-CIO and held in what was then the Capitol Theatre from the late 1930s through the 1960s, was created to help families and children in need during the holiday season. The efforts of Hunsinger, Missigman, and the rest of the CAC volunteer corps contributed to the rebirth of a cherished tradition that has brought joy to children in the Williamsport community ever since.

“We host so many incredible local events here at the Arts Center, but seeing the joy and awe on the kids’ faces every holiday season makes this one of our favorites,” said Jim Dougherty, Executive Director. “We’re incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated and generous group of volunteers, and they and the Hunsinger family’s commitment to creating a special day for area children really is something magical.”

Doors open for this free event at 1:30 p.m., with festivities beginning at 2 p.m. For questions or inquiries about the 17th Annual Holiday Spectacular, please contact the Community Arts Center box office at (570) 326-2424.

The Community Arts Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennsylvania College of Technology, a national leader in applied technology education.