Sooke’s Richard Steele will be returning as Santa Claus with an outdoor event, similar to the one run last year.
Before last year, Steele worked commercially as a Santa but decided to hold this community event last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The only reason I did this last year was that I thought, ‘You know what? There’s no Santa anywhere,’” he said. “So I just decided that we’re going to do an outside event because outside events were safe or safer at least.”
The event will follow COVID-19 guidelines, including being socially distanced, but kids will be allowed to remove face masks for the pictures.
Donations are encouraged, with a portion of the funds going to the local sea cadet corps.
Steele will be outside the A&W off Sooke Road, in the Evergreen Centre parking lot, every Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in December, leading up to Christmas.
“Come on out, Santa will be there, rain or shine,” he said.
ALSO READ: Traditional Sooke Santa Parade to return, for now, with COVID precautions
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