Parent Many Hauck, takes Santa photos of her two young boys at the Olde Tyme Christmas Event outside the cypress Centre Saturday afternoon (Tiffany Goodwein CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Olde Tyme Christmas brings spirit during time of COVID-19

Dec 5, 2020 | 9:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– As the car doors opened, little eyes and jaws widened with excitement as they looked over to see the big man himself, Santa Claus.

“ It was really, really cool,” said Addison Dreber,

This year for the kids, a visit with Santa was much different from years past.

There was no rushing over to sit on Santa’s, lap, or whispering in his ear, about what they would like for Christmas. Instead, the kids had to stay behind a yellow line, while their parents took their photo all from a social distance.

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There were a few other differences too.

“ We have to stay six feet apart and wear a mask,” said 10-year-old Brock Schneider.

Vehicles had to line up and wait to see Santa.

Still, for many kids and parents, the opportunity to see Santa this year was a welcomed experience.

“I think it is fantastic. The disappointment this year for the kids it’s been pretty hard on them and this year especially I think it is needed, and it’s great that people can still volunteer to do stuff like this for children,” said parent Mandy Hauck.

For the Schneider family, Christmas music played in their car as they waited their turn to get everyone in the spirit.

“It’s as close to normalcy as we can right now. We are trying to make it as good as we can for the kids over the holiday season with the restrictions and everything that’s all we can do,” Les Schneider said.

The event was part of the 11^th annual Olde Tyme Christmas Fair put on by the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede.

Darlene Keeler said when additional COVID-19 restrictions hit they were not sure if the event could go ahead or not, but they received reassurance from AHS.

“ I have been on the phone with Alberta Health Services, many many times making sure that we could have this. I made sure that we are following the rules exactly, that’s why we are having the drive-thru,” she said.

The event would normally take place at the Pioneer Village and see over 3000 people take part, and over the years, the event, according to Keeler has evolved.

“It’s not just for children anymore it is for the whole family. We have toddlers, all the way to grandma’s and grandpas and we are getting more because they love watching the children sit on Santa’s lap” Keeler said.

Aside, from a visit with Santa this year, the usual hot dogs and candy canes were also present thanks to a $3000 donation from the Kiwanis club in Medicine Hat.

“It means so much to me and the committee because we were not sure where we would be able to get the funds from.” she said.

Keeler added that the event was a way for the Stampede to express their gratitude for the community, for all the years of support.

“ This is our way to give back to them, to make sure that Old Tyme Christmas isn’t forgotten, and next year we will come back for the 12^th addition of it and we will be bigger and better,” she said.