MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The month of December aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar started off with a unique holiday festival - the Children's Christmas Carnival - designed for the children of Marines, Sailors and Department of Defense personnel at Miramar.

The four-hour holiday carnival kicked off at 10:00 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Youth Sports Complex next to the Bob Hope Theater and featured Santa Claus, a busy petting zoo, carnival rides, clowns, gifts, free games for the entire family, live entertainment, children's ballet performances, food plates, stands and a Miramar Fire Department fire engine.

"The carnival this year is great," said Josie Meyer who brought her two children, five-year-old Jason and two-year-old Katie. "My kids are always excited to see Santa, and it's a wonderful time to start getting into the holiday spirit before getting wrapped up, so to speak, with last-minute Christmas shopping."

Under sunny skies, the line to see Santa Claus was long, but no one seemed to mind. Kids of all ages climbed up to sit on the lap of the jolly man in the big red suit who was quick to ask the children "What's your name?" and "What do you want for Christmas?"

The carnival featured many volunteers, from food servers to ride safety monitors, who helped make the day fun and successful.

The petting zoo was a big hit with many children. It included a large variety of animals including a lama, turtles, reptiles, rabbits, a pot-bellied pig and snakes.

One of the final events of the carnival was a raffle, where dozens of gifts were given away to a crowd of hopeful winners. Ice cream and pizza parties, two bicycles and a game system were given away before the crowd headed across the street for a special event.

At 2:00 p.m. the bustling carnival crowd made its way to the Bob Hope Theater for a special showing of "Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit." The movie was a great hit with children and parents alike laughing throughout the film.

Next to the MCAS Miramar Air Show, the Children's Christmas Carnival is the biggest event for Miramar each year, according to Melanie Dowd, sponsorship manager for special events, Marine Corps Community Services.

"We typically have more than 1,500 kids who come to the Children's Christmas Carnival, and people get really excited by the festivities to kick off the holiday season," said Dowd.

The carnival's most significant highlight was its sense of togetherness. Families were sharing fun and excitement during a time of year characterized by giving and appreciation for the sacrifices of others.

"Some families here may not be so fortunate to be with their loved ones today because of deployments, so we should all be thankful for what we have regardless of the season," said Meyer.