Hereford Lions Club has been hosting Father Christmas on his annual visit to the city for 50 years and even COVID-19 wont keep him away this year. However to obey the keep your distance rules popular Santa Sleigh tours to meet the children will be re-arranged.
Usually, Santa stops in each of the streets to chat to a crowd of youngsters and asks them what presents they want for Christmas. Instead the sleigh will keep going slowly with Santa waving and wishing them a Merry Christmas.
Lions president, Sian Bayliss said: “We did not want to upset the children by Santa not turning up so the non-stop tour is the alternative. Unfortunately, local villages cannot be included and sadly the popular Santa Grotto at Oakchurch Country Store cannot go ahead.”
Santa and his sleigh will be in High Town for the day on Wednesday 16th December. The evening city tours start on 12th December until the 20th December and these are the routes and start times:
Saturday 12th December – Tupsley, Whittern Way – 5pm
Sunday 13th December – Newton Farm – 4-30pm
Monday 14th December – College Estate – Moorland Avenue 5-30pm
Tuesday 15th December – Hinton/Pastures – 5-15pm
Wednesday 16th December – High Town
Thursday 17th December – Bobblestock, Sandown Drive at 5-30pm. Westfields, Yazor Road, Wordsworth Road.
Friday 18th December – Saxon Gate – 5-30pm
Saturday 19th December – Credenhill – 4-30pm
Sunday 20th December – Abbeyfields, Hunderton – 5pm
All the Lions fund raising events to raise the money to support local charities have been abandoned this year.
Donations on the non-stop Santa routes will not be possible, but Lions will be grateful for financial gifts via text: Send message to 70450 choosing either SANTAFIVE for £5 or SANTATHREE for £3, SANTATEN for £10, or SANTATWO for £2.
There is a standard charge for the call. To refuse marketing messages end SMS with NOINFO.
