For goodness’ sake

Alyssa Mau poses for a picture with Santa during the 2006 Santa comes to Hampshire event. The same Santa will return this year.

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By KATIE ROYAL HAMPSHIRE - Santa comes to Hampshire early this year to remind every girl and boy to be nice and enjoy the fun the holiday season offers. This Friday, Nov. 28, Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet with children and their families at the Hampshire Elementary School on Terwilliger Drive and conduct a “Walk with Santa” parade over to the Hampshire Middle School. With the Clauses atop a big red fire engine and the Hampshire marching band leading the way, everyone is invited to join in on the parade leading up to the main event. “He looks just like Santa,” said event organizer Paige Hughes. “The first time I saw him, I cried. He was my Santa, just what I thought he should be. This is his third year with us, and he’s so great with the kids.” Once the parade arrives at the middle school, a tree-lighting ceremony will take place, followed by fun for the whole family. Children are encouraged to get a number to reserve their time on Santa’s lap, and pictures of the children with Santa will be provided by the Hampshire-Burlington Jaycees. Since children will have a number, no one needs to wait in line. Instead, they can enjoy other activities until their number is called. Other fun activities for the children include games and crafts inside the middle school, including take home crafts like make-it-yourself gift bags and coffee mugs. They can also make their own snacks, like hot cocoa and reindeer mix. While the children are enjoying their activities, adults can check out the craft fair or enter to win prizes and gift baskets in the raffle. Food will be available for purchase, provided by Palazzolo’s, and entertainment will grace the middle school stage throughout the evening, provided by Girl Scouts and Studio A Dancers, among others. Outside, children can enjoy a nativity petting zoo with all sorts of animals, ranging from camels to miniature horses to sheep and goats. “The camel is really cool,” Hughes said. “Kids love it. They can go in and be face to face with a sheep.” Outside fun is also available for the whole family with Clydesdale horses leading sleigh rides around the block. While the rides are free, donations are accepted and part of those proceeds will be donated to the Burlington-Hampshire Food Pantry. In addition, everyone who attends the event is encouraged to bring an item to donate to the food pantry so that the shelves will be stocked for the holidays. Participants are also encouraged to get in the giving mood with the Women’s Service league’s giving tree, set up inside the school. Families can take a tag from the tree and bring back a gift for the person described on the tag. “It’s an entire family event,” Hughes said. “It’s the Chamber (of Commerce’s) way of giving back to the community. The event is made possible by local business support through donations and sponsorship. If they didn’t give to it, we wouldn’t be able to give it to the community.”