BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Taking pictures and sending letters to Santa is a holiday tradition for many families around Kentucky, and like other holiday traditions this year, they're being adjusted due to COVID-19.
One Christmas favorite for Bowling Green families is the ice rink under the SOKY Marketplace pavilion, but in efforts to keep people safe, the rink won't be open this season.
The SOKY Marketplace still wanted to provide safe holiday fun, so it reached out to various community organizations and came up with a drive-thru Christmas experience.
“We collaborated with a bunch of other community partners and we found Santa, and we had this space, so it seems like the best way to spread some Christmas cheer right now,” said Sarah Cline, operations manager of SOKY Marketplace.
Parents can drive up with their kids and receive a bag of Christmas goodies that include a gingerbread house, candy, and a template for a letter to Santa. Christmas characters like the Grinch and Snoopy are there to wave and talk to families before they're finally able to tell Santa what they're hoping to see under the tree on Christmas morning.
“It's nice to see smiling faces leaving the way. I think it's been nice for the kids to kind of keep the magic alive to talk to Santa. I think there’s excitement there,” Cline said.
Kids in the line came dressed as their favorite movie characters and clad in cartoon-themed masks while asking Santa for everything from trampolines to water slides.
The Beard family was able to drive through and talk to Santa, and Brady Beard said after this visit, he's in the Christmas spirit.
“Pajamas and hot chocolate and going around the neighborhood and looking at everybody’s houses,” Beard said after he was asked about his favorite holiday traditions.
The holiday season will look different for families and children all over the Commonwealth, and Cline says that it's important to still try to bring hope and joy to the holidays.
“I think with COVID it's good to show that we can adapt, the world can adapt, Santa can adapt, and to just be a believer. Believe in Santa and to believe that the world will be okay one day,” Cline said.
Parents and children can visit the drive-thru Santa experience until Friday, Dec. 4. You can find the experience under the SOKY Marketplace pavilion from 5-8 p.m.