This year it’s going to feel a lot more like Christmas at the NorthPark Center. Scrooge and other live performances will resume, including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas concert.
But the mall’s beloved Santa Claus, a tradition for more than three decades, will be visiting his fans virtually for the second time in a row. Santa’s remote visits began during last year’s pandemic. A NorthPark spokeswoman said the mall consulted with Children’s Health in Dallas before making the decision.
Traffic in shopping malls during a few weeks of the holiday season last year fell by 30 to 55% below the 2019 level. The pandemic social distancing guidelines resulted in queues in front of many stores and malls created dedicated roadside pickup areas in the parking lot as many shoppers weren’t in the mood to spend a day at the mall. This year, shopping malls traffic has recovered from the lows of 2020 but is lagging behind pre-pandemic numbers. Cowen Research said traffic in the final week of October rose to 82% of 2019 levels, up from 76.2% the previous week.
The coronavirus vaccines are making a difference this year, allowing for a more normal Christmas shopping season in brick and mortar stores. But U.S. health officials just this week gave final approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5-11.
NorthPark Santa will make memories and seek to replicate its success in raising funds for child health through its virtual visits, the mall said. Visits cost $ 25 or $ 50, depending on the time of day. Also this year 100% of the collected money will be donated to the hospital.
Santa Claus raised $ 130,000 last year for Children’s Health, which cares for children in North Texas through more than 750,000 patient visits each year. Children in the hospital also have live online time with Santa.
NorthPark owner Nancy Nasher called the mall’s partnership with Children’s Health “a great mission”.
Many of NorthPark’s Christmas traditions have ties to local philanthropic groups, including the Texas SPCA, which operates a pet adoption center at the mall during the season, and the Trains at NorthPark exhibit, which benefits the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas. Both are back this year.
The familiar traditions NorthPark has built in its 56 years are popular with people who grew up in Dallas and include free live performances. The Booker T. Washington Dance Group, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and Dallas Ballet Company will perform after skipping last year.
The Scrooge Puppet Theater will return on level one between Macy’s and Dillard’s. The famous character of Charles Dickens has entertained for more than four decades. Will Schütze from Dallas returns as the second puppeteer in the mall. The improvisational performances and interactions with the crowds that gather end on Christmas Eve. Then Scrooge is finally filled with the holiday mood. Scrooge performs every hour on the hour, Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
There will be a few personal visits for Santa around town. Santa made a big difference last year by hosting shopping malls that require reservations, face masks, and plexiglass partitions. These practices are back again this year.
In the Galleria Dallas, Santa Claus will again be live and socially distant this year, but this time in a new train adventure ride. Also this year there will be performances by local music groups in the Galleria.
Neiman Marcus plans to receive Santa Claus for personal visits in selected shops and also offers virtual one-on-one visits.
This is how the virtual Santa Claus works at NorthPark:
NorthPark Santa Claus virtual visits begin on Black Friday November 26th and continue through Thursday December 23rd. Appointment time slots will be published online on northparkcenter.com in weekly steps on Sundays from November 21 at noon.
The story time from the North Pole will take place virtually every Friday at 10:30 a.m. on the shopping center’s Facebook page from December 3rd.
NorthPark’s Santa Claus, Dr. Carl Anderson, is a child psychologist who grew a beard as a student at the University of Texas at Austin in the 1970s. Children happened to call him Santa on the street, and that led to his annual sideline.
Twitter: @MariaHalkias
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