Area children enjoy a nice visit with Santa in the Window

 

[December 09, 2020] 

On Monday evening a large number of families lined the sidewalk along Broadway Street in Lincoln to spend some time visiting with Santa in the window of Sorrento’s Pizzeria.

This was the next best thing to being able to sit on Santa’s lap and whisper wishes in his ear and all the children but maybe one or two were happy just to spend time face to face with the iconic Christmas character.

The event, sponsored by Sorrento’s and other downtown businesses began at 4:30 p.m. By shortly after 4 p.m. families were lined up on the sidewalk well past Mary Todd Hallmark awaiting their turn to see Santa.

The event was designed to be coronavirus compliant. Families were asked to stay in groups. Green marks were placed on the sidewalk to designate the requested six-foot spacing between them. Everyone was encouraged to wear their face masks. When approaching the window, kids were asked to stop at the “North Pole” and wait until they were directed to go forward.

Once children were on the bench at the window, they were permitted to remove their face masks if desired for photos and to speak with Santa.

The use of a baby monitor made it possible for Santa to hear the kids and the kids to hear him. Each child enjoyed a time of visiting with Santa and not many seemed to care at all that there was a window between them.

There are always those who are a little leery of the white beard and red suit, but only a few children simply refused to get too close.

After visiting with Santa, and getting some photos taken by happy parents, the children moved on to spend a few minutes with Mrs. Claus. As many know, Mrs. Claus has a mom who loves to knit and crochet.

She spends her free time throughout the year knitting and crocheting winter caps for children. Then she gives them all to her daughter, Mrs. Claus, with instructions for each child who comes to visit Santa be given a hat from “Grandma Claus.”

In addition to a new hat, kids also had the choice of candy treats given out by Mrs. Claus.

From there, more great things awaited. Top Hat Creamery was there with the Traveling Top Hat. Owner Lisa Mestinsek was handing out cups of hot chocolate and single scoop cups of ice cream.

Top Hat and Guest House Pastries and Coffee provided free hot chocolate and coffee. The ice cream cups were provided by several of the downtown businesses.

Lisa Drew, owner of Sorrento’s explained that it began with a call from Alyssa Schneider of Schneider Chiropractic that she wanted to buy 50 single scoops of ice cream to be given away to the first 50 children to visit Santa.

Drew said that the donation was an amazing gift, and greatly appreciated. However, there soon became a concern for child number 51.

Drew and others put the word out that Schneider was donating ice cream and Drew said it just ballooned from there. They received enough sponsorships to provide about 600 cups of ice cream.

Those who donated in addition to Schneider were Joe Ryan, Country Financial; Top Hat Creamery, Sorrento’s Pizzeria; Adam Nagrocki, Country Financial; Michelle Bauer, Country Financial; Matt Arnold, Grieme-Arnold Insurance; State Bank of Lincoln, Heartland Community College, JM Abbott & Associates; Deron Powell, State Farm, and one anonymous sponsor.

It was a good night filled with happy people and smiling faces. Thanks to Sorrento’s and the downtown businesses for coming up with a plan that made Christmas a little brighter for our local kids and families.

[Nila Smith]