In past years, there has been a variety of things and events that help to celebrate the Christmas season. There have been events, such as holiday craft fairs, concerts, visits to Santa, the lighting of the City Green and a parade offered by the city administration, churches, schools and organizations throughout the community. All of these things have served to make happy memories and have become a part of the holiday tradition. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused many of these traditions to be set aside this year.
Although the foregoing of some of these time-honored traditions, albeit temporary, is a sad thing, as the saying goes, “out of adversity comes opportunity.” One such opportunity is being created to bring Santa to the children, since they cannot go to see him on the City Green. Ward 3 Council Representative Joanne Krejci has spearheaded the event, after she received a call from one of her constituents. “One of the residents in my ward had messaged me because they heard that they were doing something in Parma. She thought it was a cute idea and wondered if we could do it here,” said Krejci. “I made a few calls. I didn’t want to do it just as a ward, but as an entire city and asked the Mayor for support and he said he would. I then talked to other council members, who also supported it.”
In the end, the pandemic will not keep the jolly old man from visiting with his special friends in North Royalton! Even though Santa is working from home, he refuses to give up an opportunity to at least swing by and say hello before he loads up his sleigh for Christmas day. Some of Santa’s special friends have made it possible for Santa to do just that on Saturday, December 19, where he can be seen on the streets of North Royalton. Blue Line Classics will be providing Santa’s ride, which will be a surprise. He will be escorted by North Royalton Auxiliary Police.
Starting at 2 p.m., Santa will start at City Hall at 14600 State Road and head south. The following is a rough time line of where Santa will be, which is traffic and weather dependent:
Start: City Hall to State/Edgerton 2 p.m.
State/Wallings 2:15 p.m.
State/ Bunker 2:30 p.m.
Albion/Abbey 3 p.m.
Royalton/Akins 3:15 p.m.
West 130 Street/Bennett 3:30 p.m.
York/Edgerton 3:45 p.m.
York/Wallings 3:50 p.m.
Ridge/Royalton 4 p.m.
End: City Hall
He will be weaving in and out of some neighborhoods too. For more details of Santa’s North Royalton route, the map will be online on the city’s Facebook page, at facebook.com/CityofNorthRoyaltonOH. Krejci said that her aim was to include as much of the city as possible when she came up with the map. “It’s a challenge because the city is so big and spread out,” she said. The final map includes the “best way we could hit the majority of the city.” said Krejci. She said that it also goes by parking lots and areas where people can gather (with social distance) to see Santa.
Krejci said she is going to be trying to send out notes via her Facebook page, facebook.com/NRWard3, with in-time updates through live posts during the city tour so people can get an idea of where we are at any given time.
Krejci said that this event is “for the city to help spread the joy of the season. We still wanted to do something to help celebrate the holidays in our city. Who knows, maybe we’ll start a new tradition!”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer