The setup was a little different but the holiday spirit was still in the air during Hollister's Santa in the Park event on Sunday.
Traditionally the free community event offers holiday fun for area children and their families. Area businesses come together to provide a holiday extravaganza, with treats, goodies and gifts for the children. Santa spends the afternoon in Hollister, as well, to meet with the kiddos. Vendors and sponsors are spaced throughout the park, with children and their families visiting each booth, enjoying what each business or organization has to offer.
When inclement weather threatened to disrupt this year's Santa in the Park festivities, Hollister leaders sprang into action.
John Hagey, Executive Director of the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce, explained, "Typically the event is held at Chad A. Fuqua Park. This morning, we had to pivot when we realized the weather was not going to be as hospitable as it has been in year's past. With the rain that we were expecting for this afternoon, we turned this back into a drive-through event. The first time we did a drive-through event was in 2020 during Covid, and we turned the event, previously called Santa Train, into a train of cars."
Following Covid, Hagey and his team re-branded the holiday event, calling it Santa in the Park, and inviting families to come out for an annual fun-filled afternoon with holiday treats and gifts for area children. Each December, families flocked to the cherished event.
"This morning, because we already had that precedent set, we knew we could turn this into a drive-through, and keep the kids safe and dry, let families still partake in the event, and still honor our sponsors and be able to give back to the community," said Hagey. "That was the important part for us, to be able to still do this for the kids and make it a free event. Let them come and see Santa Claus, have a good time, and partake in all the love that these vendors have shown our community."
Children were treated to cookies, popcorn, candy and hot chocolate. They received coloring books, bottled water, balloons and other prizes and gift items from area sponsors and vendors. More than 250 gifts and prizes were given out to the children during the Sunday afternoon event.
The children were still able to meet Santa, as well, as he personally greeted the children at their vehicle, at the end of the Santa Train.
"We're really thankful that the City of Hollister has allowed us to be flexible on this and allowed us to pivot," said Hagey. "We've got fantastic volunteers; we've got many of the city employees. We've got Hollister schools well represented here. We're thankful to just to be able to do this. It's 100% free for the community. There's no cost associated with it at all."
"This event really kicks off the giving season," Hagey continue. "It shows the families what Hollister is all about, and just how big the heart of Hollister really is."
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