LOXLEY — The Town of Loxley is continuing to spread cheer this Christmas season.
In addition to the third annual Light Up Loxley holiday lights contest and the town’s first Christmas in the Park event, the town has set up a special box for kids to submit letters to Santa.
The box, located at the Loxley Civic Center in the town’s Municipal Park, 4198 Municipal Park Drive, was installed on Tuesday, Nov. 30, said Brooke Flowers, the town’s public relations director.
“Kids can drop their letters off to Santa and Santa will answer back,” Flowers said.
Letters are picked up every day from the box and specially delivered to Santa for a response. Santa has already responded to two letters, she said.
“We’re just asking to make sure there is a return address on their letter,” Flowers said, “and they need to have their letters in by Dec. 17 so that Santa has time to respond to all the letters before Christmas.”
Children will have a chance to talk to Santa personally and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the town’s Christmas in the Park event, which will be held following the Christmas parade. The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, running from the Loxley Church of God up Hickory Street (Alabama 59) to the park.
There will be a booth set up in the park with pre-made letters that children can fill out and drop in the box, Flowers said.
“They can fill out the letter with what they want for Christmas,” she said, “and there will be a place on the letter where they can check whether they’ve been naughty or nice this year.”
The event will also include a lighting of the tree ceremony, Christmas caroling, a live nativity scene, a Christmas village with elves, food trucks and children’s activities.
Dec. 8 is the last say to submit nominations for the Light Up, Loxley decorating contest, which is being sponsored by the Loxley Public Library.
The library also has hand-made crafts for sale and children can also participate in a coloring contest with pictures featuring a holiday theme available with prizes for several age groups. Pictures can be picked up and returned to the library by Dec. 21.
For more information, call the library at 251-964-5695. For information on submitting Letters to Santa contact Flowers at town hall, 251-964-5162. For parade and Christmas in the Park information, call town hall or the Loxley Civic Center, 251-964-7733.
