SAN ANGELO, Texas — As the holidays begin to approach, a visit from Santa Claus is on the Christmas bucket list for many young and old.
This year, as in years past, the Railway Museum of San Angelo, 703 S. Chadbourne St., will welcome Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch, who will all be riding in by train to visit attendees of all ages.
"The kids really love to see Santa get here by train ride so it's a lot of fun," Railway Museum board of directors president Suzanna Valenzuela said.
Santa (Downtown San Angelo, Inc., executive director Del Velasquez), Mrs. Claus (Lucy Gonzales, San Angelo City Council SMD 4) and the Grinch will arrive at 10 a.m. near the edge of the parking lot as musicians welcome them to Santa's Santa Fe Christmas.
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., attendees can expect a live performance from San Angelo singer Rita Capuchina, dance numbers from the Lake View High School Chieffettes, photos with Santa and the Grinch, food trucks, vendors, a $5 train ride for children and more.
"So it's really just a very full day of lots of fun activities for the family and just kicking off the holiday season, of course, getting Christmas gifts, shopping with the vendors, but it's gonna be a lot of fun," Valenzuela said. "It's grown a lot and so every year, we have more people to show up to come see Santa arrive by train, it's a lot of fun."
Entry is free for all attendees and the day will also include a chance to get up-close and personal with a Republic Services trash truck as well as vehicles from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the San Angelo Police Department.
Additionally, next year's Santa - Angelo State University President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. - will be officially announced and he will be available from noon- 2 p.m. for photo opportunities.
This is the Railway Museum's largest fundraiser of the year and it is currently open to accepting sponsors, vendors and food trucks.
"You know, we're lining up some performances still but it'll just be like a full day of fun things for the family to do and then of course we're right in downtown so people can go check out some of the other things going on, as well," Valenzuela said.
Businesses can sign-up at santafechristmas.
For 26 years, this tradition has brought San Angelo together.
"That's one of our goals is for people to feel like the museum belongs to the community and it is a place for the community to gather," Valenzuela said.
Visit RailwayMuseumofSanAngelo to learn more.
