Mall Santa visits have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but you may be able to get your annual pictures with Santa anyway.
The North Pole set-up at Orchard Park Mall has been provided by the Kelowna Actors Studio for over a decade, so there was a lot of disappointment when the mall's parent company cancelled it. But as they say in the theatre, 'The show must go on.'
"We had a tough time with that," said Nate Flavel at the Actors Studio. "There had to be a way that we could figure this out."
The plan is to book 10-minute appointments at the theatre with a maximum of 3 kids in each group while keeping a safe physical distance.
"Santa will be sitting on one side of the and they will be on the other separated by a Christmas tree and presents so they are fully distanced for the photo," said Flavel.
To make it fun, the theatre is thinking up some creative scenarios.
"Maybe the kids hiding behind the tree and noticing Santa dropping a present or the sharing milk and cookies," he explained.
The only thing missing will be physical contact with Santa.
"But they still get a chance to have their yearly conversation with Santa," Flavel added. "And that's important for kids and also for Santa. He's got to check up on them."
We're also told that Santa may be wearing something that we will always associate with this year.
"Santa will have a mask. He'll have his red velvet mask Mrs. Claus is building for him right now, so he'll have that option for the photos," he continued, "which I think is a really great opportunity to showcase and commemorate this crazy year."
It all starts November 30th and runs until Christmas Eve.
To book a visit with Santa, people are encouraged to visit the Actors Studio Website.
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