OKEECHOBEE -- A uniquely Florida scene: Kids in t-shirts and shorts having a snowball fight.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Okeechobee community was treated to something many had never seen before -- snow. 

As a special holiday treat, Gilbert's Family of Companies arranged for snow to fall in Flagler Park, in sunny 75-degree weather.

The snowfall was confined to an area encircled with hay bales. On Saturday morning, the snowmakers arrived with a giant machine and 16 tons (32,000 pounds) of ice.  Ice was fed into the snow machine's hopper with snow shooting out a hose to fill the little arena.  Children crowded around the sides, anxious to see -- and feel -- the cold stuff.

When the area was about half full, the machine clogged and the crew worked to get it going again. The excited kids couldn't wait. They started reaching into the snow arena to grab some of the frozen white wonder and make snowballs. The inevitable snowball fight ensued with kids on either side merrily lobbing snowballs at each other.

Once the machine was unclogged and the snow-making resumed, the arena was quickly filled with snow. Given the "go ahead" to dive in, the youngsters rushed in while more snow continued to be sprayed above and around them. Some kids lay down and waved their arms and legs to make snow angels. At least one made made a tiny snow man. A few threw snowballs at "Mr. Ice" who was manning the snow hose, and in response Mr. Ice sprayed them with stream of snow. 

The air was filled with laughter, snowballs and sheer Christmas joy.

“My kids will never forget having a snowball fight in Okeechobee,” commented Stacey Lafave. “They will remember it for the rest of their lives.”

“Hats off to the Gilbert’s Family of Companies for putting this on for the kids,” commented Tommy Shorter. “I think there may have been a few grown ups enjoying it as much as the kids did.”