Siblings Jonah Orr, 5, and Hannah Orr, 7, of Girard, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday during the annual Christmas at the Mill in Mill Creek Park’s Lanterman’s Mill, which continues 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.... Correspondent photo by Sean Barron

YOUNGSTOWN — It often saddened Janet Haladay to drive to her banking job in downtown Youngstown and pass children who were inadequately dressed during cold weather.

So, it warmed her heart years later to fill a Christmas tree with donated hats, scarves, beanies, ear muffs, stocking caps, mittens and other protective clothing that will benefit many young people this winter.

“The tree is loaded and the table (next to it) is getting there,” Haladay, a Mill Creek Park volunteer, observed Saturday.

She was referring to a Giving Tree, which is set up to display donated winter gear before the items are given to a charity organization and then distributed, though Haladay was uncertain which charity would be the recipient.

The special tree also is part of the annual Christmas at the Mill in and outside of Mill Creek Park’s Lanterman’s Mill off Canfield Road.

The free, holiday-themed gathering continues 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the mill.

Haladay, who worked more than 30 years in banking, was busy Saturday afternoon accepting material and monetary donations from attendees to ensure many toddlers, babies, children and teens will be ready for whatever this winter brings to the Mahoning Valley.

The event, which began more than 30 years ago, has an estimated 30 food and craft vendors as well as artisans, which is up slightly from last year. Nevertheless, the traditional aspects of the popular family-friendly gathering remain the same, Eric Simone, Lanterman’s Mill manager, noted.

Saturday also dished out ideal weather of cloudless skies and temperatures around 40 degrees for the indoor and outdoor event, the underlying idea of which was to give visitors an enjoyable experience and get the holiday season off to a positive start for them, Simone said.

That formula likely will play out for Josh Shelor and his family, who drove more than six hours from their Salem, Virginia, home to visit his in-laws in Cortland.

“This was on our to-do list of things to do today,” said Shelor, who brought several family members, including sons Grayson Shelor, 10, and Blake Shelor, 13.

Part of the brothers’ enjoyment came from watching Joe Sullivan, who’s with Fun Family Entertainment, blow up, tie and twist a variety of colorful balloons into creative characters, then use marker pens to draw faces on them. Sullivan kept things lively also by telling a series of jokes as he made the balloon shapes.

Also exercising a healthy dose of creativity Saturday was Shawne Wilfong of Austintown, who had on display a variety of Christmas-related jewelry, along with star patterns she had made from wrapping paper. One of them that took her about an hour to craft had special meaning.

“My son is a paramedic, so I wanted to make it for him,” Wilfong said, referring to the main influence behind such a star she created that was patterned after the flag for first responders.

Being part of Christmas at the Mill also is a family tradition, because Wilfong’s aunt, Carole Brown, started selling Native American jewelry in the mid-1990s. After her aunt became ill, Wilfong and her mother continued with the effort.

Assisting Wilfong was her stepdaughter, Andrea Wilfong, who had a line of scented soaps for sale.

Of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus found their way to Lanterman’s Mill from points much farther north, and were a hit for many children and adults. Among them were siblings Jonah Orr, 5, and his sister, Hannah Orr, 7, of Girard, who got to stand next to Santa and his wife.

“We’ll be spending time with family,” their mother, Sarah Orr, said when asked about their main Christmas plans.

Specifically, the three of them intend to celebrate the holiday at Sarah Orr’s mother-in-law’s home, Orr said, adding that she was pleased with how well the Christmas at the Mill event was organized.

The favorite gathering also has several recognizable vendors and aspects to it, including the roasting of chestnuts, courtesy of Ray Novotny, park naturalist emeritus, as well as Bob Barko Jr. of Steel Town Studios in Youngstown. Barko is selling numerous prints he’s made of the mill, along with ones of the iconic Idora Park and a new one that depicts Youngstown State University.

Additional merchandise for sale includes numerous Christmas ornaments and decorations, yarn items, necklaces, earrings and about 10 types of macaroons.