Communication with Santa indicates one of two visits in the coming weeks.
According to Downtown Benton, Inc., organizational chairman Alan Odom, story time with the jolly man in the red suit will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5.
“The Buzz located on the Benton Public Square is hosting Santa,” Odom said. “Boys and girls can come to The Buzz between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and have their photos taken with Santa. The cost is only $5 per photo and proceeds help Downtown Benton, Inc., to continue to host events such as this.
“In the back of The Buzz, we will have a table set up where children can make crafts while they wait for story time,” Odom said. “We will have materials available for the kids to make Christmas cards for their moms and dads, along with pages for them to color.”
At 1:30 p.m., Santa will read three stories.
“Two favorite Christmas stories, ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas’ and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ will be read, along with ‘Timmy the Tractor’ by a local author,” he said.
“The fun doesn’t stop after the stories have been read. At 2 p.m. children will be given an opportunity to ride in one of Benton’s fire engines along with Santa. The rides in the fire truck will continue until every child has had a turn.”
Odom said Santa would return on Saturday, Dec. 12.
“Santa will arrive on the public square at 6:30 p.m.,” he said. “We are not sure but we are hoping to have Santa arrive in a Benton fire truck because we don’t have the snow for Santa’s sleigh. Before his arrival in Capitol Park, the Benton Middle School choir will sing. We may even have more music from the Benton Consolidated High School band.”
He said Santa would light the tree in Capitol Park after he arrives on Dec. 12.
“The public square looks particularly beautiful this year,” Odom said. “The Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce decorated the light poles last month. Downtown Benton Inc. members decorated Capitol Park and Malkovich Park last weekend and the whole place just sparkles. Everyone did a great job on the decorations. I am very pleased with the way everything looks and look forward to sharing the beauty with the entire community and beyond.”
Odom said he hopes merchants will keep later hours on Dec. 12 to add to the festivities.
“This would give folks who turn out to greet Santa an opportunity to shop in our stores,” he said. “By having the stores open, that will give Santa and his followers a chance to do a Christmas stroll as they head to The Buzz for photos, if they choose.”
