how are you handling it this year? A video visit, in person with safety precautions, skipping it altogether, or something else??
DD is almost six and brings up going to see Santa constantly. We haven’t decided what approach we are taking. Just wondering what others have decided...
persimmon / 1111 posts
We are going to a church parking lot where we can waive to Santa while everyone is masked. Capacity is very limited. It's not the same, but at least they can see Santa.
cherry / 194 posts
We did a virtual visit through Outschool. My girls actually liked it - we were able give Santa info about the girls beforehand and they thought it was amazing that Santa knew so much about them. They were able to tell Santa what they wanted and ask Qs of him.
persimmon / 1495 posts
@castilrm: Ooh, I love this idea. Are there multiple versions on Outschool?
pomegranate / 3973 posts
We were able to go in-person to a local hardware store where we go every year. There is never a line (and wasn't this year), we all wore masks of course, and Santa was behind plexiglass, so they couldn't sit on his lap but wrote down their lists and dropped it in a mailbox for him.
nectarine / 2460 posts
We're skipping it altogether. The solutions for the venues we have used in the past to see Santa just seem stressful/not worth it. Like one is doing a Santa drive-thru where you wave and talk out the window. Another is doing reserved 5 min time slots where you sit in the back of a sleigh with plexiglass and get pictures. The 5 min slot seems stressful as a family of 5 - to get all the kids there on time and done on time. Also, the drive thru is $20 and the 5 min slot is $40. And that just feels silly right now.
grapefruit / 4584 posts
Our typical interaction with Santa is when our local police officers accompany him to our house (he brings them a gift we drop off to the PBA, along with a donation for them - our choice, not required - ahead of time). This year he's doing a drive by, but isn't coming up to the door with gifts.
We haven't really ever done photos with Santa in "normal" years other than at events where we happen on him by chance. I don't want to do a typical visit this year because even if Santa, his elves, and venue management are complying with social distancing rules, I feel like there are bound to be other over-excited people there waiting their turn who are too in my face for what I feel good about right now with numbers rising.
cherry / 194 posts
@Chuckles: yes I think so! The one we did was called “Visit with Santa” and the host teacher is Rachel G. She works with a couple different Santas who come and join the call after a short story by the teacher. It was sweet!
coconut / 8079 posts
my kids haven’t asked, but Macy’s is doing some free virtual events so we may check out one or two.
clementine / 920 posts
We are visiting Santa in person but it is appointment only and they have limited slots that are spread out. Masks are required except for photos and the kids will be sitting 6 feet away in front of Santa.
pomegranate / 3272 posts
We're skipping. My kids never seemed that interested anyways. Our realtor always held an event at the beginning of December where they would rent out a theater and show the latest kids movie that was out and always had a santa. The boys did that but never seemed interested in more than just a picture. I asked if they wanted to do one of the drive by options and they passed. Those just seem like they have to be organized just right or you'll just be sitting in a car forever.
Our town has a mailbox to santa and they're organizing people to respond back to the kids. I think mine will get a kick out of that so need them to write their letters!
nectarine / 2648 posts
We are doing a Zoom with my BIL dressed as Santa (he already has a suit from years past) and all the cousins logged in to create a little excitement while sharing their lists. It is what it is.
pomegranate / 3231 posts
@jhd: We tried the Macy's event yesterday. It was kind of lame. It crashed twice at the same place, and we gave up. I feel like I just signed myself up for marketing nonsense for no reason. I don't recommend the experience.
pomelo / 5573 posts
We did a visit - we booked a time slot, everybody wore masks, and there was a plexiglass barrier between the kids and Santa (although after the pictures the kids went around the barrier to talk to him). It was fine, or rather to me it felt a little weird and depressing but the kids seemed excited to get to see Santa and hopefully in a few years we’ll be able to look at the photos and say “remember 2020? That was a weird year!”
nectarine / 2018 posts
Thanks for sharing all of your plans! It's nice to hear the different approaches. I know this is such a small, trivial thing in the grand scheme of life right now.
DH scheduled an in person visit tomorrow morning - it's the first time slot of the day. Reservations are required, Santa is behind a plexiglass barrier, and everyone has masks on. I'm a little unsure about the whole thing... but I think we are going to try it.
coconut / 8079 posts
@ElbieKay: ugh I’m sorry to hear that. If my kids don’t ask about Santa at all we will just skip it.
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
I offered the kids a virtual option (with the Santa we usually see) but they weren’t that into it - they’re a bit on the shy side and online seems to make that worse. So we’re skipping because honestly, for us it’s mostly about 1) me wanting a cute holiday photo and 2) getting to have a special day (we usually take most of the day off school and go ice skating or do another holiday activity after). So instead I just had them dress up cute and pose in a big outdoor sleigh set up nearby, no Santa. I think there are some masked etc Santa situations that don’t seem too risky, which I would probably try if the kids wanted to do it, but this year made me realize it’s just about me 
nectarine / 2018 posts
@bhbee: so at first I was worried that it was about us and not DD (because I know I can get like that about traditions ) but DD will not stop talking about seeing Santa. I wish she were indifferent because I think we would just skip and do a similar picture to what you did.
The place we reserved has no penalty for canceling or not showing up, so I’m sure I’ll be debating this until the moment we walk in.
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@catgirl: ha I am so like that about traditions and covid has really forced me to see that!
I think what you described really sounds doable especially since you shouldn’t have to wait in line. But I understand the wavering too!
persimmon / 1345 posts
Our city’s police/fire dept offered a neighborhood Santa drive by. The subdivision could sign up and were given a a specific time. The kids were in their yards/porches and Santa drove by with police cars and fire trucks like a mini parade.
pomelo / 5621 posts
DS1 is 7 and really wants to visit Santa. We had an in person visit booked, they are doing the whole plexiglass mask wearing thing. But then his school cohort had to go into isolation. So I rebooked and now DS2 is in isolation. I am going to reschedule again since he really wants to go. Crossing my fingers we will get to go.
persimmon / 1380 posts
We are doing a drive thru light thing and at the end you drive through Santa’s castle and he comes up to the car to say hi to the kids and the kids can give him a list. Our township also does a santa drive by where he rides on a fire truck on all of the streets and hands out candy canes (or he did last year, not sure about the candy canes this year).
pomelo / 5084 posts
@catgirl: Skipping it altogether. Doesn’t feel essential or worth it - but I’m in a very very high area for positive cases.
eggplant / 11716 posts
The same mall we always go to is still doing Santa, so we went there. Short version: Santa and elves wear a mask, everyone in line has to have a mask, but once kids are seated on a bench wrapped like a present 6 feet in front of Santa, they can remove masks for the picture. We were literally the only people there, except Santa and the photographer.
Longer version: I would describe my family as a 8-9 on the scale of Covid strictness—10 being total shut ins. So I researched and planned and then told the kids we’ll be flexible and leave if there are crowds—I reserved a time online in advance and noticed Santa takes a break from 3-4pm, so I chose the 4pm time slot and reserved. We arrived a little early at 3:40pm on like a Wednesday, luckily the whole mall was totally dead and the few people there were all wearing masks. It was easy to stay more than 10ft away from other people. We got to the “line” for Santa 10 min before our appt, but there was no line since there was a sign saying Santa was on break for an hour. Waited 5 minutes (no one else came behind us in line), and Santa came back early and we took our picture and were on our way. In and out of the mall in 15-20 minutes total, never being closer than 6 ft to anyone. The Santa setup is in the 3 story atrium, so there’s more air/space. We don’t go to indoor places where the ratio of people/space is higher.
All in all—I love having the masked Santa photo as a memento. We get a pic every year and make it into an ornament, so I have every year for each girl since they were born, with Santa, on our tree. And now we’ll have the 2020 pic forever.
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