FORT WRIGHT, Ky. — Christmas is coming early this year, at least for some kids on the nice list in Northern Kentucky.
After keeping his distance last year due to the pandemic, Santa Claus decided to check in on some of the good boys and girls in Fort Wright.
What You Need To Know
- Kids can drop off their letters to Santa Claus at a mailbox at Fort Wright City Hall for the rest of July
- Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a visit to see kids after missing out last year due to the pandemic
- Santa said the elves are working extra hard on toys to make up for last year
- Santa and Mrs. Claus will be back in Fort Wright on July 20
The actual most wonderful time of the year may be six months away, but Aleesa Cotter is a little girl who knows what she wants, and she isn’t wasting any time.
Cotter shared her simple Christmas wish list that she wrote for Santa.
“Dear Santa, I will be happy with any unicorn and LEGOs, love Aleesa,” she wrote.
Cotter took the letter to Fort Wright City Hall, where a big Christmas-themed mailbox is available for kids like her to drop off all their Christmas hopes and dreams for Santa to read. The department of public works helped build it.
Taking a break from their Hawaiian summer vacation, the big guy himself, and Mrs. Claus appeared in person as well on July 6. Soaking in the summer sun was a nice change of pace from the frigid chill of the North Pole.
“I need a little warmth sometimes,” Santa said. “I thought, you know, it’d be nice to stop in here just to see the kids, and tell them Santa's still around.”
“Everybody loves Santa right? But behind every good man, there’s a good woman,” Mrs. Claus chimed in.
It was a far cry from 2020, when Santa had to keep his distance due to COVID-19.
“It was a lot tougher, because the kids were very cautious about all this pandemic stuff,” Santa said. “So we did all right, but this year will be a lot better. They’re gonna be overwhelmed because we have more toys than we ever had.”
Nothing was going to keep him and the kids apart this year. Cotter was able to deliver her letter, and give Santa (who may or may not have been her uncle Jerry) a hug.
To Cotter, presents, cookies and Santa pretty much sums up how she feels about her favorite holiday. And to stay on Santa’s nice list, “listen to the house rules, and be good,” she said.
Santa’s got a lot of letters to read through, but it sounds like Cotter’s got a good shot of getting everything she asked for.
“Well, I think we can do a pretty good job on this. I think she’s been a very good girl,” Santa said. “I’ll get my little elves on the job.”
The mailbox will be up for the rest of July for kids to send their letters to the North Pole — no postage necessary.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be back on July 20 to see more kids between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.