East Hills Shopping Center makes COVID-19 changes to Santa visits

Park.

A long standing tradition- stopping by the mall to sit on santa's lap, telling him what you want for christmas.

But santa's stop at east hills shopping center will be different this year because of covid-19.kq2's kilee thomas shows us how santa's going to stay safe this year- in his new ride.

Kilee thomas reporting "adaline, are you excited for christmas?""yeah""who comes a christmas time?""santa claus" santa claus is coming to town.

Sot: tyson huff-garza, east hills shopping center director of marketing- "i don't think we wanna kill the magic of christmas and so we want to stay safe, but we want to have an option for kids to see santa."

Despite the rise in covid-19 cases- jolly ol saint nick is making his regular stops at east hills mall this holiday seasonbut telling him your christmas wish won't be the same.kids will not be sitting on santa's lap "santa is switching seats this year.

Ol' saint nick will be sitting right here in his big red sleigh and those lucky boys and girls on santa's nice list will be sitting on santa's chair this year."

Sot: huff-garza- "we talked about doing a plexi.

A lot of malls are doing a plexi in the middle where the kids are on each side.

I didn't love that idea because it still seems barricaded."

Kids waiting in line for santa will have to wear a maskbut can take it off for the picture.

Even santa is wearing a mask this year!sot: huff-garza- "it's a really cool clear mask, but i think it's important for kids to see santa's smile."kris kringle won't be handing out candy canes and his stops in st.

Joseph will be shorter to keep santa safe sot: huff-garza- "the magic of christmas does not need to be cancelled.

If those people don't feel comfortable, they can write letters to santa.

We're going to have a mailbox out here.

I think it's important to possibly end this year on a good note."

East hills says there's less santas playing the part this year because of covid joseph, kilee thomas kq2 news before flying in from the north pole on black friday...santa is scheduled to be in town on saturday from 5-7 at the mall for the east hills' christmas