If you are making a holiday wish list, it's time to start checking it twice.
Santa and, in some cases, Mrs. Claus, will be coming to several locations in the area during the next few weeks.
Saturday opens the holiday season in Oneonta, and several events are scheduled, said M.D. Poole, who is coordinating the effort for the Santa Committee of Main Street Oneonta, a nonprofit organization that promotes the downtown area.
"It is a free community family day that is a special time for Oneonta," she said.
Events start at 9 a.m. with a free showing of Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears a Who," at the Oneonta Theatre on Chestnut Street. Sponsored by the Oneonta Dance Company, everyone is encouraged to bring at least one nonperishable item for a food drive.
Call 432-2820 for more information.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf will be riding on a horse-drawn wagon, among the more than a dozen units, including fire trucks, a juggler and a Brownie troop, in the Main Street parade that begins at 11 a.m.
Afterward, Santa will take up residence at the cottage at Muller Plaza downtown.
From noon to 1:30 p.m., Mrs. Claus will be telling stories at the Greater Oneonta History Center.
In Cooperstown, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in a parade that starts at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28, said Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce office manager Elise Schiellack.
Starting on Main Street, the couple will go to Pioneer Park, where they will light the tree and meet children at the cottage, she said. The event is sponsored by the Cooperstown Christmas Committee, which will provide hot chocolate at the nearby kiosk.
The annual "Spend the Day in Walton and Christmas Parade" is Nov. 29, an organizer said. There are events throughout the day.
"We've been doing this for years, and every season it gets bigger and bigger," said Maureen Wacha, vice president of the Walton Chamber of Commerce.
The day begins with "Breakfast with Santa" at the Harby Center at 45 Stockton Ave., from 8 to 11 a.m.
Other events include a free puppet show at the Ogden Library at 1 p.m., and at 6 p.m., a Santa parade with the tree lighting to follow.
Santa comes to Sidney in the "Jolly Holly Day Parade" at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street, said Sidney Chamber of Commerce Secretary Carol Allen. The organization sponsors the event, which includes entertainment starting at 6 p.m., she said. "It's the kickoff of our holiday season."
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If you have good news you'd like to share, call Managing Editor Cary Brunswick at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 217; fax him at 432-5707; e-mail him at cary@thedailystar.com; or write to him at P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820.
