Students at Harns Marsh Middle School are gearing up for their first Winter Wonderland Festival and Arts Performance, which will be open to the community to enjoy.

The Harns Marsh Middle School Academy for the Arts and Academics inaugural Winter Wonderland will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 12, at 1820 Unice Ave. N. in Lehigh Acres. Tickets are $5 per person.

The family-friendly, active night, will feature a number of arts performances by the students.

Dance Director Kelly Terebieniec said this past summer the arts teachers were talking about what they could do to bring the school together, showcase the arts, all staged on the gorgeous property of Harns Marsh. She said the idea of having an outdoor performance, complete with a train ride taking attendees from each location, came to fruition.

“Our school is quite lovely out here. It’s actually very beautiful,” Terebieniec said, adding that they have 1,600 kids at the school. “We want to let people know we are here and the good things going on here, too. Our school is on its way to becoming an ‘A’ school.”

Teacher Giorgio Samartine said they are trying to take the arts out of their school, while putting it into a bigger picture, all while raising the spirits of Lehigh Acres and bringing some Christmas cheer to the entire community.

“I am a Lehigh resident. We don’t really have much going on in this town when it comes to the holidays,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest events (Winter Wonderland) our school has ever done. Lehigh doesn’t get the best rep. We are trying to change the emotions for this town. I see it changing gradually. Something can change the domino affect to change our school and town.”

Terebieniec said the event is geared towards the kids, a fun night out. She said they recently have had some students lose their parents.

“We have a giving tree that is going on for some of the kids in need. The holidays are not always the happiest. We are trying to bring some joy and use arts for that avenue,” she said, adding that Lehigh has some great people. “We are trying to focus on it . . . the positive energy that the school brings and the kids are bringing to the event.”

Samartine said the Winter Wonderland is student run.

“Kelly and myself let the kids go and let them plan it. They are making all these crafts. We are going to deck this place out like New York,” he said.

Although the festivities kick off at 6 p.m., performances will begin at 5:45 p.m., so attendees are greeted with the arts when arriving.

“We have two trains that will take people around to different performances. The kids are going to be stationed at different spots and perform as the train goes around. It’s a different way to see performances. It’s more interactive. There are a lot of things going on at the same time,” Terebieniec said of such areas as the band, chorus, dance, drama and singing. “It’s going to be very festive.”

More than 1,000 students will be performing during Winter Wonderland.

“All of our kids are very excited. Our kids excel and deserve a day where they can come alive for the community. These kids practice their hearts out. They deserve a moment to shine. These kids deserve to shine,” Samartine said. “These kids show up for us every day. We have such talent. Winter Wonderland is an open event to showcase who they are.”

Terebieniec said the arts is so good for their students’ emotional growth.

“They come to school because they want to go to that drama, arts and dance class and they feel better,” she said. “It gives the kids a new life. We love what we do. We want to share it with the community. There are beautiful things that happen every day. There are some amazing talent out here. It’s so lovely to discover that. The school is getting an arts brand.”

In addition, Santa Claus will make a special appearance for pictures.

“We are bringing a snow machine in,” Samartine said.

Terebieniec said they are also bringing in some food trucks for the event, so they can get the local restaurant community involved as well.

A DJ also will be part of the festivities, as well as a silent auction and a bake sale, put on by the culinary students.

At 8:30 p.m., something rare is going to happen, Samartine said: Everyone coming together to sing Christmas carols.

The money raised during the event will go towards Harns Marsh Middle School arts programs.