A photo with Santa is a staple of the Christmas season, but it can be a very difficult experience for children with sensory issues. So this year at Fair in the Square, in addition to the outdoor photos with Santa by the Verona Public Library, Verona will hold private indoor photo sessions for children with sensory sensitivities.
If you think your child might need this kind of photo session, please email Steve Neale, Verona’s director of economic development, at [email protected] for details and registration. These photos will be taken on Saturday, December 4 from 11 a.m. to noon.
This special Santa is an outgrowth of brainstorming by the Town Council’s new diversity, equity and inclusion committee. Deputy Mayor Christine McGrath made the suggestion and then Neale tracked down a Santa with experience interacting with children with sensory issues. “We’re trying to make all our events more accessible,” Neale says, “and really trying to think how we can improve in that area all around.”
The outdoor Santa photos for other children will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Families should just come over to the bench by the Library with their own camera.
If you’re new to Verona, Fair in the Square is a long-running holiday fair that is held in the center of town. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. and there are merchant and food vendors, along with information on many of the organizations in Verona. The lights on the large pine treen in front of Town Hall will be lit at 4:30 p.m.
There’s one other way to get a glimpse of Santa in Verona. On Sunday, December 12, the Verona Fire Department will be bringing him around town; no set schedule, just listen for the truck horns. The VFD will be giving out candy canes and dog treats, and asking that the community give them non-perishables that they will deliver to the food pantry at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. The list of what Holy Spirit needs is here.
