NEWBERRY COUNTY — Mrs. Claus is coming to town for the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce’s Santa’s Workshop, set to take place the first three Fridays in December.
Santa’s Workshop will include a children’s craft outside of Community Hall while inside Mrs. Claus will read Christmas stories by the tree. Each Friday — Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 — will involve a different craft and a different story.
Michelle Long, executive director of the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce, said she does not know what the crafts will be but she does know they will be something simple.
“Something that maybe involves painting, or something that might involve gluing, but they will incorporate Christmas,” she said.
Mrs. Claus will be played by three different volunteers — Deann McManus, Sue Summer and Theresa Halfacre — along with Mr. Bean. Each volunteer will choose a Christmas story to read.
Outside, Munson Summer and his students will sing Christmas carols while Mrs. Claus has her elves outside assisting with the crafts. The volunteer elves will include Mike and Laurie Meadow, Cathy Davenport, Liz MacDonald, Mel and Kimberly Kitchens, Dennis and Michelle Long, Dr. Morrie and Dr. Sandy Scherrens and Scott and Cathy Cain. Snacks will be served outside.
Liz MacDonald, administrator with the Chamber, said the event was successful last year, with each night drawing about 100 children. Since the crafts and the stories will be different each night, children are encouraged to come to as many workshops as they want.
Santa’s Workshop will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mrs. Claus will read at 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a 15-minute break in between.
Long said that once the story time has started, they will close the doors and will not re-open them until the story is done.