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On Sunday, for instance, the jolly old elf will be riding in the Downtown for the Holidays parade in Olympia, and he’ll pose for pictures and visiting with kids at The Olympian Hotel before and after that. But you can also find him at malls all over the country this time of year and collecting donations for The Salvation Army outside of grocery stores.
Mrs. Claus, though, is a bit of a mystery.
But at Downtown for the Holidays, you can also meet Santa’s better half – if such an expression can be permitted when we’re talking about the guy who brings the presents.
She takes kids on rides in a horse-drawn wagon in Sylvester Park, and her name is Virginia – just like in the classic holiday film “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.”
For Sunday’s event, Virginia Schnabel of Shelton is the woman behind the man behind the reindeer. She sings with the kids, she said.
“Kids are pretty shy about the whole thing,” said Schnabel, who dresses the part in a plaid skirt with a blouse, an apron and a red cape trimmed with white faux fur.
“If they ask me anything, it’s usually something to do with the reindeer or Santa Claus, not too much about me,” she said. “If they ask questions, I’ll answer with my own made-up ideas.”
She’s been appearing as Mrs. Claus for the past six years at Downtown for the Holidays, which also offers a chance to have photos taken with Santa, performances by singers from Masterworks Choral Ensemble and Capital Playhouse’s Kids in Concert, and a parade.
“It’s going to be a bigger parade than ever before with over 50 entries,” said Vida Zvirzdys-Farler of the Olympia Downtown Association. “Last year, someone told me that about 4,000 people came.”
The event wraps up with the lighting of the Christmas tree in Sylvester Park. The tree is already decorated and in position in the park.
“It’s 30 feet tall,” Zvirzdys-Farler said. “We had to cut it down a little bit this year. There was a slight accident when they were cutting it down and some branches broke, so we had to shorten it.”
Downtown for the Holidays
What: Olympia’s holiday celebration, a project of the Olympia Downtown Association and the Parking Business Improvement Area
When: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Olympia
Admission: Free
More information: downtownolympia.com
SCHEDULE
Noon-2:30 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides with Mrs. Claus in Sylvester Park and electric trolley rides at Washington Street and Legion Way
Noon-2:30 p.m. and 3:30-5 p.m. Photos with Santa in the lobby of The Olympian Hotel, 116 Legion Way S.E.
Noon-5 p.m. Ginger-bread competition in the Urban Onion Ballroom, 116 Legion Way S.E.
1-2:30 p.m. First Christian Church Chime Choir in The Olympian Hotel lobby and Masterworks Singers at 5th Avenue/Capitol Way
3 p.m. Holiday parade from Olympia Farmers Market, Washington Street Northeast, to Sylvester Park
4 p.m. Olympia Highlanders Pipes and Drums in Sylvester Park and Singing Christmas Tree by Kids in Koncert on Legion Way
4:30 p.m. Tree lighting in Sylvester Park
