Santa’s sleigh ride is doorstep delight
SANTA has been getting about town to enchant youngsters after a Christmas lights switch-on was cancelled.
Whitworth Tourism and Leisure Committee volunteers invited the big man in red to ride around in a custom-built sleigh as a Covid-safe alternative.
Santa covered 16 miles over two nights, Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5, driving up and down all the main routes in Whitworth and Shawforth waving to the children.
Families were told the route in advance and asked to stand on their doorstep or at the end of their street to watch him pass by.
He was given a proper Whitworth welcome, with hundreds of families stood out in the cold.
The residents at Barley View care home also rolled out the red carpet for Santa.
Whitworth Town Council said: “The event was just what was needed after a long year of restrictions.”
Santa is also able to squeeze in another date - he will make another visit on December 20.
One of the committee’s fundraising events is the annual Whitworth Duck Race, which usually takes place at Cowm Reservoir on New Year’s Day but has gone virtual this year.
The process is simple, you sponsor a numbered rubber duck for £1 which gets entered in a race down Cowm Reservoir overflow against 1999 other fine specimens of rubber ducks.
The winning three ducks get cash prizes of £100, £75 and £50 and even the last duck wins a tenner.
This year rather than watching the race at the res you will be able to watch it online at 1pm on New Year’s Day.
Ducks can be sponsored in advance at local shops and businesses or online at: www.whitworth.gov.uk/ events/Annual_New_ Years_Day_Duck_Race