NEWBERRY — The Newberry County Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the “Santa’s Workshop and Storytime with Mrs. Claus” for a fifth year of Christmas magic.
“Santa’s Workshop and Storytime with Mrs. Claus” will be held the first three Fridays in December (Dec. 6, 14, 21) from 5:30-8 p.m. each night, at no cost.
Mrs. Claus will be played by Sarah Griffin, Deann McManus and Theresa Halfacre (with the help of Mr. Bean).
“What we started about two years ago, instead of one story, because there are so many kids and instead of making them wait, they are just going to read different Christmas stories the entire time. So one group will go in and a group will come out, it’ll be continuous,” said Michelle Long, executive director of the Chamber.
Children will also have an opportunity to make a craft during each of the nights — each Friday will present a new craft. Liz MacDonald, Chamber administrator, said the first night they will be making snowmen with marshmallows, the second night they will be making Christmas ornaments and the third night they will be icing cookies.
“We will have helper elves from the Chamber to come every Friday night and help with the crafts for the children,” MacDonald said.
While supplies last, the Chamber will be giving out elf hats to the children (courtesy of TD Bank) and books (courtesy of Newberry County First Steps).
“This is the fifth year we’ve done this to complements the other Christmas events happening downtown, like North Pole Nights,” Long said. “So come out and see Mrs. Claus and do a craft to add to your Christmas memories.”
Other events that will be happening downtown, with the City of Newberry, will include North Pole Nights and Santa’s Tour of Newberry.
North Pole Nights runs on December 6, 13 and 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Community Hall and Memorial Park. Faux snow and pictures with Santa will be downtown in Memorial Park. This event is free, however pictures with Santa do require a small fee for the photographer.
The Santa’s Tour of Newberry will be from 5-6 p.m. on those nights. Santa will tour Newberry’s neighborhoods via Fire Truck before arriving downtown for North Pole Nights on those select Fridays.
Week 1 – Grant Homes, Palmetto Point Drive, Nance Forest, Oakland Community, Newberry College area and Harrington Street neighborhoods.
Week 2 – Forest Ridge, Loblolly, Newberry Arms, Pebblebrook, Wise Street, Mollohon area and Caldwell Street to downtown neighborhoods.
Week 3 – West End neighborhood through Drayton Street, Main Street, Crosson and Suber Drive.