BUTLER TWP — Santa Claus wears red, and brings presents and holiday cheer to children.

Is this cause for a child to be nervous?

“Sometimes,” said Stephanie Styen, 9, of Fenelton, “because he can be scary.”

However, Stephanie said she is relieved as soon as she talks to him and tells her what she wants.

Stephanie, who is the daughter of Shawn and Christine Wedlock, was one of a number of children who attended a breakfast with Santa on Saturday at Butler Township Park.

Santa arrived to great acclaim at 10:45 a.m. After breakfast, the children sat on his lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas.

Stephanie said she would ask Santa for an iPod Touch. “With a camera on the back of it,” she said, noting that she used to have her brother's iPod, but it no longer works.

She is something of a technology buff, and the most favorite gift she has ever got was a computer tablet.

Stephanie and her family, like many families, like to leave snacks and libations for Santa when he stops by to drop off gifts on Christmas Eve.

“We put cookies and milk out for Santa. Sometime carrots,” Stephanie said.

She noted that her family does not always have carrots in the house, so Rudolph and the other reindeer might go hungry sometimes.

Zachary Carney, 7, of New Sewickley Township said that he used to be afraid of Santa.

“When I was a baby, yes,” said Zachary, who now loves him.

He said he would ask Santa for a remote controlled airplane. It was unclear whether that would top the gift he got last year, a green bicycle. He said that is his favorite gift of all time.

He is the son of Greg and Kathleen Carney.

Ben Horstman, 8, of Fenelton said that sitting on Santa's lap would be a highlight of the morning for him

“(And) telling him what toys I want,” Ben said.

He said he wants a Lego Star Wars set for Christmas. But he also had another, somewhat old-fashioned idea.

“I was thinking about getting a game called Battleship,” said Ben, who is the son of Brian and Candice Horstman.

Raeanna Mackalica, 4, of Slippery Rock has been going to see Santa every year, but she now is beginning to become aware of what he represents.

“She talks about him at home,” said her mother, Lacrisha Mackalica.

However, she said her daughter is another child who gets scared when she sees Santa in person.

Silas Turner, 19 months, of Mars still could not get over the recent Thanksgiving holiday.

“Happy turkey day,” said Silas, who is the son of Jen and Chance Turner.

Still learning to speak, he has not quite mastered wishing people “Merry Christmas.”

“Not there yet,” his father said.

However, Silas at least knows what Santa says.

“Ho ho ho,” Silas said.