Photo: Kelowna Actors Studio
Some of the elements of the backdrops for pictures with Santa at Orchard Park
Don’t wait to book your family picture with Santa.
In Kelowna, two popular photo offerings are filling up fast.
In fact, the return of Santa Paws has proven so popular, all the available appointments booked in a matter of days.
The charitable fundraiser offers Santa pictures with your pets at a local private property.
“It’s donated to us for a day-and-a-half but the owners have built it into this really cool little western town. So, it’s a really fun opportunity for people to come explore this place that they wouldn’t otherwise get to see,” said Majic Greenwood, who started Santa Paws in 2017 with a couple of friends.
In the first three years, they raised more than $8,000 for the Kelowna SPCA.
They had to take a break during the pandemic last year, but are back for 2021. All the proceeds this year will be going to Taco Dog Rescue Society, which rescues street dogs and abandoned dogs from Mexico.
People can still get on the waiting list for Santa Paws by emailing organizers.
Over at Orchard Park Shopping Centre, pictures with Santa begin on December 1st, but bookings opened at the beginning of this month, and are all filling up quickly.
Kelowna Actors Studio has been in charge of the show for more than 10 years.
They will be mimicking what was done last year.
“We had so much feedback last year that people really actually liked the social distance, they liked that the kids didn’t have to sit on Santa’s knee and they liked that they could make a reservation and show up at that time, and they didn’t have to stand in line to meet the mall Santa. We took all of the things that people liked, and we’re bringing it back into Orchard Park mall this year,” said Rebecca Leboe, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kelowna Actors Studio.
They will be set up in the old Le Chateau storefront, and the whole family can get in on the picture.
Leboe explains that you can even pick the Santa you want to get your photo with. “Our website is orchardparksanta.com and you can go and book. You choose what Santa you want and then it tells you, okay this Santa is available at these times, and you just book in your time slot,” explains Leboe.
She estimates they will be able to fit in about 4,000 appointments this year from Dec.1 to Dec. 24.
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