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Socially Distanced Santa Still Brings Holiday Cheer

Santa
For many Santas, the setup looks different this year.

Christmas is right around the corner. And during a pandemic many parents wondered if their children would be able to meet Santa Claus.

Sommer Kingsbury is the owner of Who’s Toys in downtown Rapid City. She says she was determined to still have kids visit with Saint Nick.

“Our Santa is positioned at eight feet away from a white bench on a platform and at an angle behind. So you'll get Santa’s face in the background of your picture. And then the family sits on the bench.”

It’s called forced perspective. An optical illusion that makes it look like the families and Santa are next to each other.

Kingsbury says both Santa and Mrs. Claus wear face shields. An elf sanitizes the benches after each use.

Who’s Toys also collects children’s letter to Santa. Kingsbury says that Santa takes them with him at the end of each day.

-Contact SDPB’s Megan Feighery by email.

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