Who needs a mall? Santa's visits set throughout the Alliance area

ALLIANCE − After decades of visits to Carnation City Mall in Alliance, Santa Claus has found lots of new places to visit area residents now that the shopping center has closed.

Santa's last visit to the mall was in 2021, when the jolly old elf consulted with wee ones who wanted to share their lists in person. The mall permanently closed in August, and will be replaced by a Meijer store that likely will open in 2024.

This year, Santa will accept visitors elsewhere around the Alliance area.

Among his first stops will be at "A Vintage Christmas," a new holiday event planned for 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2 on East Main Street in downtown Alliance.

The event will stretch from Park Avenue north to Freedom Plaza, with activities on the sidewalks. There will be at least 25 craft, business and food vendors.

Free cookies and hot chocolate also will be available.

"It'll be nice to bring the whole community together," said Ed Albert, owner of Pocket Change Antique Mall and one of the event's organizers.

Downtown merchants are organizing this event, as a test-run to future monthly First Fridays celebrations, similar to ones in Canton and nearby Louisville.

"The trick for us here is getting foot traffic downtown, getting people used to coming down here and enjoying themselves," Albert said.

In addition to Santa, he said, the Grinch also is expected to stop by the event, and there will be other activities. For example, children can take a tour of a fire truck.

Additionally, the Ceremonial Christmas Tree at Freedom Plaza will be raised, and the Alliance High School Choir will perform carols. The entire area will be decorated.

Here are some other chances for children to see and get their photos with Santa:

❅ SEBRING − Annual Christmas Festival starts 4 p.m. Dec. 3 in the village's downtown. There will be activities, a parade at 5 p.m. and tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Santa will be at the Winter Wonderland Party at Gednetz-Ruzek & Brown Funeral Home after the parade.

❅ YWCA ALLIANCE − Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 3 at 239 E. Market St. (Haggart Hall). Reservations are limited. Call 330-823-1840 for tickets.

❄ GLAMORGAN CASTLE ‑ From 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3, Glamorgan Castle will be decorated and opened for tours and photos with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. "A Children's Victorian Christmas," costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

❄ HUSTON-BRUMBAUGH NATURE CENTER - Holiday celebration open house on Dec. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at 16146 Daniel St. NE in Washington Township. The Visitor Center and Huston Cabin will be decorated for the season. There will be craft ornaments, music, s'mores and a walk to the 1800-era cabin to meet Santa. It's a family-friendly free event.

❅ ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH − Free breakfast and photos with Santa; event will collect non-perishable food items and accept free-will donations for local pantries. It will take place 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 3 at 3295 S. Union Ave. It is a fundraiser.

❅ BURGESS INSURANCE − Photos with Santa from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at 950 S. Sawburg. There will be coloring activities, hot cocoa and cookies. Pictures are free.

❅ SILVER PARK − Annual Christmas in the Park is 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Silver Park. Santa will be in the new Robertson Lodge for pictures.

❅ CARNATION FESTIVAL BREAKFAST WITH SANTA − Event will run 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dec. 10 at Alliance Applebee's. Tickets are $10 per person for those ages 3 and older. Get tickets from any festival board member.

❅ ALMOST HOME EVENT CENTER − Kid-friendly buffet breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 17 at 203 S. 12th St. in Sebring. The cost is $10 for adults; $8 for those ages 3 to 10; and free for those younger than 2.

❅ NEW HOPE CHURCH − Free pancake breakfast and pictures with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 17 at 20990 Oak St. in Sebring.

❅ HIDDEN ABBEY − Limited tickets. For $25 a child, there will be a hot chocolate bar and a choice of a Santa or Reindeer ornament to paint and take home. Adults can attend for free. There are two sessions − 2 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Dec. 11. No tickets sold at the door; purchase online. The event center is at 23250 Main St. in Homeworth.

❅ AEONIAN BREWING − From 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 17, a family-friendly breakfast buffet with holiday crafts and Santa at 120 W. Chestnut St. The cost is $12-15. Cash bar available for cocktails and Aeonian brews.

❅ LOUISVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY − From 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10, children can write a letter to Santa and get their photos with the wise old elf at the Louisville Public Library at 700 Lincoln Ave.

❅ MARANATHA MINISTRIES − Kids Ministry Christmas Party at noon Dec. 3 at 14289 Edison St. NE in Lexington Township. Free. First 100 kids to register by calling 330-821-3265 can get a gift from Santa when they meet him.

If a Santa stop in the Alliance area was missed, email Benjamin Duer at ben.duer@cantonrep.com. The story will be updated online.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Santa Claus will be at several Alliance area celebrations in 2022