Come see Santa in-person pick up Christmas letters

Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus will still visit the Old Mill District this year.

While there’s no SantaLand in 2020, families will still be able to see Santa in-person Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12, and Dec. 18-19. 

As part of the new Santa experience this year, two special red North Pole mailboxes will be placed in the Old Mill District – one near Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and the other by Jimmy John’s – from Nov. 27 to Dec. 19. Children are encouraged to drop off their letters to Santa at any time, complete with a return address, as all letters will receive a response.

With a little help from his friends in Bend, Santa will be driven through the OMD in the back of a pickup truck to pick up the letters during the aforementioned dates, Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12, and Dec. 18-19 at 1 p.m. each day.

These letter runs will allow Santa to wave and interact with everyone in the Old Mill District, but in a way that respects the current health and safety guidelines.

The public is encouraged to come down and cheer on Santa these Fridays and Saturdays before Christmas as he collects his holiday letters. We do ask that spectators maintain proper distance between one another and Santa and his special helpers.

Santa waves to the public in 2019.