Christmas in the Village returns, adapts
NEW KNOXVILLE — Like many events in 2020, Christmas in the Village will look a little different than it has in past years but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Switching to a non- contact event, Christmas in the Village — scheduled for 10:30 a. m. to 2:30 p. m. on Dec. 5 — will still feature many of the businesses in The Little City as well as everyone’s favorite visitor — Santa Claus.
“It’s primarily an outdoor event this year,” said event organizer Linda Davis. “It’ll be different but even if it’s just for the kids, it’ll be something that they can do for Christmas that they may not get to do anywhere else. That alone will make it a worthwhile event.”
From the Village Market to the American Legion and from The New Knoxville Library to Johnna’s Salon participants will find crafts,
treats and even Baxter the therapy dog. Maps will be handed out at the start of the event that highlight all of the stops along the route. Kids can write a letter to Santa at the post office, pick up a craft from the library and pick up goodies from the Village Market.
Participants will be asked to follow all state mandates relating to COVID-19.
“We understand that this is a different kind of year but we wanted to have something fun and Christmasy for people to do in town,” Davis said.
While families are traveling around the village, they are
invited to keep an eye out for chances to enter in the Search for Santa at each participating business. Davis said there will be Santas hidden in the front windows of the businesses and families will be encouraged to take pictures with all the Santas they find.
Winners of a variety of prizes will be announced from those who post their Santa pictures on social media. Organizers have yet to decide on what the hashtag will be for those posts.
Santa will parade through New Knoxville from 10 a. m. to 11 a. m. as he rides on a fire truck, spreading Christmas cheer to the families exploring the businesses. At 11:30 a. m., the jolly elf will be stationed inside Fleet Safety Service until the end of
the event at 2:30 p. m.
“He will be in the conference room at Fleet Safety behind some plexiglass,” Davis said. “There will be employees in there who will work to help keep everyone safe and help kids talk to Santa on our intercom. It’s the best way we could have people still see Santa but also keep him safe.
“That’s the main thing — we want people to have fun but we want to do it as safely as possible.”
Davis added that there is no makeup date planned in the event of poor weather.
As of this publication, forecasts for Dec. 5 are calling for temperatures in the mid 30s with scattered snow showers and winds at 10-15 mph.