Weston children receive a visit from Christmas Eve | News

WESTON – Imagine the excitement of children when someone knocks on the door on Christmas Eve and the door is opened. Santa Claus is standing there with a white beard and a red robe. There’s a lot of excitement brewing in Weston at this time of year as children know that Santa Claus is visiting every home in town, handing out bags full of goodies and accepting gift requests.

Camille Keller, the city council-appointed event coordinator, said she remembers the experience of hearing Jolley’s old elf come to her home as a teenager. This year she’s leading the Santa Project, making sure the magic happens in every home he’s invited to.

The tradition existed long before most of the helpers were born.

“Santa has been visiting homes on Christmas Eve for at least 75 years,” she said. “I remember him coming to my house when I was younger. It’s such a fun tradition.”

She said families outside Weston’s city limits used to get visits from Santa, but the town has grown so much that he can barely get to see the town’s children anymore. Therefore, outsiders must be invited into the houses in Weston to take advantage of the visit.

The bag of goodies will be provided by the city and community volunteers will gather at Millie’s at 25 E. Depot St. before Dec. 21 to fill the brown bags with oranges, peanuts, a sticker and mint.

“We are looking for volunteers to help us fill the bags this year,” said Keller. “We need all the help we can get to prepare for Christmas Eve.”

It only takes a minute or two for Santa Claus to enter the house, sit down, have the children sit on his knees and ask the little ones what they want for Christmas. He gives them the bag of goodies, then tells them to go to bed and then leaves.

Then Santa Claus goes and prepares his reindeer for his world sleigh ride to deliver Christmas presents to the world.

Eight men from the Weston area leave their families on Christmas Eve to help Santa make his rounds. An anonymous donor has offered them some money to help them with their Christmas duties.