BARRYVILLE, NY — The newly opened Catskill Mountains Resort will hold a community Christmas party and grand opening on Saturday, December 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. Residents are invited to stop by the resort at 211 Mail Rd. for the festivities.

Santa will be arriving by fire truck at 5 p.m. He will make his way down to The Wilderness Lounge to sit by the fire and sit for photos with children. Children can bring a letter for Santa or fill one out right there and put it in Santa’s mailbox. A stocking filled with goodies will be given to each child as well as a complimentary photo to take home.

The kids can roast complimentary marshmallows and sip hot chocolate by the fire pits in The Courtyard. Carolers will sing holiday classics in the gazebo, and guests can tour the grounds, which are decorated for the season. Guests are welcome to take a look at the hotel and main house rooms as well as the log cabins.

Adults can hang out in The Wilderness Lounge where the bar will be open with holiday drink specials, and they can dance to DJ Yetti spinning some holiday dance music. A complimentary buffet will be available to anyone who brings a new unwrapped toy or winter clothing item. Local Sullivan County charitable organization A Dose of Kindness will be on hand to accept the donations and get them to local families who need a helping hand this holiday season.

A Dose of Kindness will be having its holiday dinner for community members in need the next day in Monticello. The resort will be donating tons of food for this very worthy cause. Resort management believes in the community and wants to see it grow and prosper.

Guests are welcome to stay past 9 p.m. and party on into the night with the Ugly Sweater Contest in the Wilderness Lounge. Prizes will be given for the top three winners. In this case, the worse the sweater looks, the better the chances of winning. First place will win an overnight stay at the resort; second place will win a dinner for two at The Mountainside Restaurant; and third place will win a bottle of wine or champagne.

For more information visit www.CatskillMountainsResort.com. The resort will be featuring a New Year’s Eve package this year, which includes dinner, dancing, party favors and a champagne toast. The Mountainside Restaurant will be open evenings for dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. The Wilderness Lounge will be open weekends from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.