By JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Meeting Santa Claus is a time-honored tradition for many families throughout the holiday season. Sometimes tracking him down can be a little difficult, he appears in so many places.
To remedy that, Eagle Media reporters have compiled a small list to help parents track down where Old Saint Nick will be located in Hutchinson.
Santa pays attention to all children and wants to meet every child he can. Sometimes, however, meeting Santa can be a bit much.
That is why one of his first stops will be at Oz Chiropractic and Clothed in Compassion for Sensory and Santa on Dec. 10.
For kids with disabilities accompanied with sensory issues, such as autism or social anxiety disorders, holiday activities, such as meeting Santa, can be a lot.
“We’ll have Santa. It’ll be a nice sensory opportunity for our kiddos who might otherwise not be super excited about engaging with Santa and so it’ll be nice and quiet, in a calm environment, that’ll adjust one family at a time,” Clothed in Compassion’s Dr. Megan Bartley, OTD, OTR/L, said. “We’ll also have ornament decorating, some snacks, and then some short activities they can do in the sensory gym to kind of experience what supports pediatric occupation therapy can offer families.”
Dr. Bartley explained that the places where one might normally see Santa Claus, such as malls or parades can be overwhelming for a variety of reasons, including loud sounds, bright lights, and places with a dense amount of people.
Sensory and Santa will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.
Both Oz Chiropractic and Clothed in Compassion are located at 1529 E. 30th Ave.
Santa’s second pre-Christmas Eve stop in Hutchinson, will be at Bookends and Splinters-N-Rust DIY Workshop on Dec. 15, where he will be joined by Mrs. Claus, and special friend, Frosty the Snowman.
On that, Third Thursday in downtown Hutchinson, families can bring kids for free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Bookends, and Frosty the Snowman at Splinters-N-Rust.
The first 70 children will receive a holiday coloring book from Frosty the Snowman.
Additionally, the Hutchinson Mountain Dulcimer Players and Friends will also be inside Bookends performing holiday music.
Bookends is located at 123 N. Main Street and Splinters-N-Rust is located at 125 N. Main Street.
Santa’s next known stop will be at Salty Cycles for Harley Holidays on Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hot behind their part in the recently successful Reno County Toy Run, Salty Cycles continues to give this holiday season, by opening their doors to the community for an afternoon of merriment.
“What we really do, we bring in Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and there’s a photo opportunity for people to bring their kids down to have pictures taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus,” said Scott Marshall, owner of Salty Cycles. “We usually do alternate setting. If they want to do it with a motorcycle, we do it with a motorcycle. If they want to do it traditional in the Santa chair on the backdrop, they do it that way too.”
Harley Holidays at Salty Cycles will also have free snacks and refreshments, as well as a few store specials, giveaways, and gift bags for the kids.
Salty Cycles is located 129 E. Sherman Street.
The last place, so far, on Eagle Media’s Santa appearance list, is at Memorial Hall on Dec. 17.
In addition to meeting Santa, kids and families will be able to gather and decorate hundreds of premade graham-cracker gingerbread houses.
Santa will arrive and take the stage, lit up and decorated for holiday photo opportunities.
Children can visit with him before or after they have decorated their gingerbread house.
“We'll have some new activities to add to this year's event, which are in the works,” said Hutch Rec on their event page. “So stay tuned.”
Memorial Hall is located at 101 S. Walnut Street.
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