Some Stores and Malls Are Canceling In-Person Santa Visits
Nonetheless, traditional meet and greets at other places have been affected by the virus, too. Macy’s, which has hosted Santa at its store in New York City for nearly 160 years, has scrapped in-person visits this year. Macy’s told the Associated Press that more than a quarter of a million people come to visit Santa at its store in New York every year, which makes it difficult to create a safe environment during the pandemic. In a normal year, crowds of people squeeze into tight spaces to visit Santaland, a sort of maze filled with Christmas trees, toy trains and elves, before taking a picture with Santa.
Instead, it will offer virtual visits through its “Macy’s Santaland at Home” experience, which will allow kids to take a tour of Santa’s workshop and take a selfie with him. Santaland will offer other activities, including helping the elves pack his sleigh, and is now live.
