Santa is ready to fly into Wagga's shopping malls to spread the festive spirit ahead of Christmas.
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Jacqueline McCulloch, marketing manager at Wagga Marketplace, said Father Christmas would clock on to field gift requests and update his naughty and nice lists from Saturday.
But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the photos will be socially distanced.
"To maintain proper social distancing, unfortunately, guests will not be able to high five Santa, sit on the throne next to him, or sit on Santa's knee," Ms McCulloch said.
"Instead, they will need to remain 1.5 meters from Santa at all times.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"We request customers arrive on time, no earlier than 5 minutes for their designated time slot. Please be aware that parking in the area can be challenging, so plan to arrive early and enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat beforehand."
Wagga families will have their seat next to Santa's chair, and the usual high-5 will be replaced with a wave instead.
An online booking system has also been launched for all customers to book in their Santa photo in advance to avoid queuing.
There is a designated day for children with special needs to meet Santa in a quiet, low-stress environment. Those who are keen to book their furry friends in for a picture can also come on a specified date.
Santa will also be appearing at the Sturt Mall near Kmart from December 4, and no walk-ins are available, so each family must book online.
A spokesperson for the Sturt Mall said customers As bookings are required, there will be minimal lines, and physical distancing will be in place may remove their mask once seated in position for their photo and must put it back on before standing in the photo area.
For visits until December 15, people aged 16 or over need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a signed medical exemption as a condition of entry.
"We are very excited to be hosting Santa this year and look forward to seeing everyone's smiles," the spokesperson said.
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