Blue Santa, Christmas Market set for Saturday
Karen Knott Anderson makes a donation to Blue Santa at Walmart. Operation Blue Santa, a program of the Marble Falls Police Department, collects new unwrapped Christmas gifts and donations for the longstanding benevolent program Highland Lakes Christmas for Kids, Inc. The big Blue Santa event for kids entertainment and donations will be Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. while Christmas Market on Main is underway on Main Street.
Blue Santa, Christmas Market set for Saturday
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Two special Marble Falls events will be going on in the central city Saturday, Dec. 10—one for shopping and the other for giving.
Christmas Market on Main, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. will line the historic Main Street boulevard with great gift selection extras and holiday treats.
Blue Santa will be making his big appeal from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Johnson Park on Avenue J and the event is aimed especially at enjoyment for children.
The Marble Falls Police Department is challenging the city to fill a police car with gifts and donations for families in need. But bounce houses, games and chances to meet police officers, much like National Night Out, are planned for kids who come to meet the actual Santa in Blue.
Officer Aaron Garcia said all donations are welcome, but special needs at the 11th-hour are gifts for kids in the 16-year-old category. Check donations may be made to Marble Falls Blue Santa or Highland Lakes Christmas Is for Kids.
Christmas Market on Main is an event of the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, which has arranged for vendors of gift items from organic soap to handmade jewelry to add to shopping choices for a day.
The Historic Main Street Business Association recently reorganized and they are sponsoring Christmas on Main.” Main Street businesses will be open until 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday until the weekend before Christmas.
“Every business is doing its own thing, adult beverages, special incentives, new merchandise,” said said Debbie Brown, owner of It's All Goode and a member of the association. “We are providing a hayride from the Walkway of Lights to downtown from around 6:30 or 6:45 until 8:45 p.m.”
She said families can park where they choose and enjoy the Walkway or shopping before riding back to to parking.
“We will be collecting toys and donations at the police station on Main Street and in boxes around town, like the one at city hall, until Dec. 15,” said Officer Aaron Garcia, who heads up the drive. “Blue Santa's big event will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, in Johnson Park.”
The MFPD is challenging donors to “fill a police car” with toys for kids.
Any family that needs help with Christmas gifts for children will find an application at the Marble Falls Helping Center, 1315 Broadway Street, or the Department of Health and Human Services, 1046 Resource Parkway, in Marble Falls.
“We will sort gifts on Dec. 16 and distribute them Dec. 17 at Marble Falls Middle School, said Garcia.
