Beyond the shopping mall and holiday party: New ways to meet Santa | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Beyond the shopping mall and holiday party: New ways to meet Santa

Calgary's Santa School teaches aspiring Kris Kringles to look the part and stay in character. New graduates are being deployed for shopping malls and corporate holiday parties.

Here's a look at some of the new tricks available to celebrate the festive season:

Santa by appointment: For a cool $99, plus tax, families can skip the lines — and potentially some tantrums — by booking "a personalized visit with Santa in a festive, intimate setting" at the West Edmonton Mall. Photos and admissions to four mini attractions at the massive mall are also included.

Santa by smartphone: The iTunes store has several apps to set up phone calls and even video chats with Santa. Some tout their effectiveness as a disciplinary tool. "The perfect tool for parents to encourage good behaviour all year long. Report naughty children using Santa's Automated Voicemail System," reads the description for "A Call From Santa!"

Spying on Santa: Through the Capture the Magic website and a handful of apps, parents can insert St. Nick into a picture of their home, providing photographic evidence of his visit for young ones who couldn't stay awake late enough on Christmas Eve.

Santa Paws: Several pet supply stores and animal rescue organizations have charitable events where Santa poses for pictures with your fur babies.

Elf on a Shelf: The little cherubic, pointy-hatted helpers are still very much a thing. Parents hide the "scout elves" in different locations every night after they return back from the North Pole, where they help Santa with his naughty and nice lists. Creators behind the phenomenon have also come up with an elf clothing line, and toy St. Bernard and reindeer pets.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016
The Canadian Press

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