West Seattle holidays: Update for today’s Junction Santa plans

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, added 12:24 pm)
10:32 AM: In today’s West Seattle Sunday preview, we promised an update if blustery weather changed the plan for the Junction Hometown Holidays Santa Workshop. Here’s our first update, just in from Junction Association executive director Susan Melrose:

We have a very windy day in West Seattle, and unfortunately this will have a negative impact on Santa’s Workshop. But we’ll make do! Please be prepared for a change in plans!

The plan was to set up several tents to create a Santa photo booth and craft activities. We have serious concerns that the tents may flip in the wind gusts and create a safety hazard for families. As a result, we decided to cancel the “workshop” and we intend to create a simple Santa photo set without tents. Donna will be photographing kids in a windy open park setting as long the rains hold out.

If rain does start, we’ll move Santa to City Mouse Store for a meet and greet and you’re welcome to snap your own photos. There would be no room for photography. The weather forecast predicts a bit of rain at 11 am and then just cloudy. Wind all day.

The safety of neighborhood families was the sole reason for this change. The weather is unpredictable today, and tents can also have unpredictable behavior. We need to err on the side of safety. So sorry for the changes. But if it’s not raining, come on down for wind-filled visit and photo with Santa!

City Mouse is two doors west of the park, at 4218 SW Alaska. We’re Junction-bound shortly and will add updates/photos here as the event proceeds.

12:24 PM: Just added a photo. As Susan wrote, it’s “wind-filled,” but families (and Santa, and photographer Donna) are braving it. Hasn’t rained so far. Ultimately, it’s all good news for beneficiary WestSide Baby AND for a unique Santa-photo memory, to say the least. If you miss this one, all the Santa-photo venues we know of for this season are listed in their own section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Event and Info Guide.

1:37 PM: Via a comment below, the Junction Association says they’ve now gone to Plan B – meet-and-greet with Santa inside City Mouse – until 3 pm. $1200 raised for WestSide Baby already!

K'lo December 1, 2013 (12:28 pm)

Does anyone know if this year’s Santa is coming from Vashon?
I have a gift of ferry fare for him and have been trying to track him down. He has been donating his time, and own ferry ticket, every year for many years now, to local groups though out the Seattle area. Thanks!

Irukandji December 1, 2013 (12:30 pm)

Donna and team were handling the group and the weather beautifully. Thanks so much for continuing this tradition!

The Junction December 1, 2013 (1:14 pm)

Our Santa is from Vashon! He will be at City Mouse Store until 3pm for a meet and greet. Professional photography is over:(. Westside Baby volunteers are on hand to help as needed. So far, $1200 has been raised for Westside Baby. Thank you West Seattle!!

sam-c December 1, 2013 (3:29 pm)

thank you so much to Donna Ryan, Santa, and the other volunteers there today. their gift of time to the community for this event is very much appreciated. everyone there, while windswept, were all smiles and very friendly.

Valerie December 1, 2013 (4:52 pm)

Love, love, love Donna Ryan! She is a good community member and also can’t resist her shop. Thanks, Donna.

lg December 1, 2013 (6:08 pm)

Thank you to all the kind people working the photo set-up today. You made the event very nice for my family. And, we always love Donna’s work. She has such a great eye and touch with children.

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