Santa and friends bring holiday cheer to Callingwood
By Jeremy Jagodzinski
EDMONTON — Santa Claus is in town at the Callingwood Marketplace so that boys, girls and parents alike can pass on any last minute Christmas wishes that might not yet be on his list.
Horse-drawn hay rides were offered Dec. 10, 2011, at the Marketplace in Callingwood in west Edmonton at the Santa's Workshop event, and will be available again on Dec. 17. Photograph by Jeremy Jagodzinski.
If you missed it last week, Santa’s Workshop will be open one last time at 6650 177 St. at the Professional Centre on Dec. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. With all sort’s fun activities, Santa’s helpers will be on hand to make getting a photo with the Kris Kringle an event for kids.
“This year has been one of our best turnouts yet,” said Marketplace Marketing director Jody Hrabiwchuk after Santa’s first visit to Callingwood, on Dec. 10. “I think it’s going to be another fabulous day, simply because the weather forecast is looking really great again.” Saturday’s forecast is for a high of 5 C.
Whether it’s face painting, crafts or balloon animals, there are plenty of things to keep kids entertained for the afternoon.
Meanwhile, adults can sip a free hot chocolate, listen to carolers and enjoy horsedrawn hay rides by themselves or with the whole family.
Sponsoring radio stations 91.7 The Bounce and Sonic 102.9 have donated an iPad and a game system to raffle off as well.
The first 25 visitors to get their photo taken with Santa will get a $20 gift certificate to Muggn’z Family Restaurant.
“I can tell you that I have seen anywhere from newborn babies coming to get their photo with Santa right up to 30-year-olds,” said Hrabiwchuk. “It’s quite a span of people who like to come out and meet Santa.”
Santa, of course, is keen on making the children happy.
“Really impressed with everyone here,” he said last Saturday. “None of the boys or girls here have been greedy. No one came with long lists, most of them only asked for one or two reasonable things.”
Although the Marketplace has been providing hay rides for the last 10 years, this year marks the second year that the shopping centre has been able to organize a full event with the help of sponsors such as Shoppers Drug Mart, the Edmonton Sun and Country Daycare.
There is a nominal fee for the digital photos, but hot chocolate and all the activities are free and your photo will be processed by the time you’re ready to leave.
Visit the official Santa’s Workshop website provided by the Marketplace at Callingwood or check out either The Bounce or Sonic radio online for more information.
Take a look at Santa’s big scene on Dec. 10: