Horse drawn sleigh rides will be back for another year at Watson Santa Claus Weekend. (Facebook/Santa Claus Weekend in Watson (Aeran Schmid Photography))

By Mat Barrett

Santa Claus Weekend

Watson Santa Claus Weekend back for 88th year

Dec 5, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Watson is ready for a weekend full of Santa Claus.

The Town of Watson is holding their 88th Annual Santa Claus Weekend starting on the evening Friday, with “Festive Friday” and ending on Saturday, Dec. 7 with “Santa Saturday” and the 26th Annual Supper with Santa.

Mayor Norma Weber said the event is always great to bring some attention to their small town.

“Any chance that we have to bring people to our town is always a great day for small communities and such,” Weber said. “Cities, they don’t seem to have much trouble attracting people, but in small towns we need to create excitement here and we certainly do with our Santa Claus weekend.”

Events include ‘late night shopping’, a wreath auction, a home based business show, pictures with Santa, Santa Claus races, sleigh races, horse drawn sleigh rides, family skating, and more.

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With an event going so long, there’s always changes that come. The Supper with Santa was added over the years, and some events have also been discontinued. Weber said it’s great to be able to continue an event like this.

“We’ve had some great organizing groups over the years,” she said. “They have changed hands several times, which is always good because we don’t want to burn people out. So, it’s good to have new people coming forward all the time to keep the tradition going in town.”

Some of the money raised at the event goes towards the museum, but most goes back into the community for other events and to run future Santa Claus Weekend’s.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6