Celebrate Santa 2009 In Gatlinburg This March

GATLINBURG, Tenn. – Elves and reindeer and leprechauns, oh my!

Mischief will be afoot as a unique gathering of characters converge on the town of Gatlinburg in the Tennessee foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Stories, fun, laughter, workshops and old-fashioned goodwill will rekindle the spirit of Christmas days before spring dawns.

“Celebrate Santa 2009” will be held March 16-18 and is being hosted by Joe and Mary Moore. After visiting friends in the Northeast Tennessee area in 2000, the couple fell in love with the region and moved here from California in 2007.

“The people are so warm and welcoming, and this is certainly God’s country. We found a return to family and Christian values and knew we belonged here,” said Joe Moore, who has portrayed Santa for six years with Mary by his side as Mrs. Claus.

The Moores were involved in “Celebrate Santa,” a large gathering of Santa’s helpers in 2006 in Branson, Mo. More than 300 of the jolly gents in red attended the event.

“After touring the Gatlinburg Convention Center with the beautiful wood, stone work and the overall décor, we knew we had found ‘Santa Central,’ ” Joe Moore said. “There are so many shows, attractions and shopping here, we knew all of Santa’s helpers and Mrs. Clauses would also really enjoy this area.”

Although many Santa’s helpers will be attending workshops to hone their skills, the pulic is invited to Santa’s Showcase, a large holiday market at the convention center and a resource for Santa supplies, on March 16-18.

It also includes live reindeer and a sleigh factory on convention center floor.

HOLLY & SHAMROCK PARADE

Speaking of mischief, there’s a twist to this convention. The leprechauns and the elves have surprises in store during a parade led by Saint Nicholas and St. Patrick.
In the middle of the gathering is St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. The first Holly & Shamrock Parade, hosted by the city of Gatlinburg, will feature characters of all kinds walking and riding down the parade route. Large, helium-filled balloons are planned with elaborate floats and any number of holiday delights to entice the senses.

Finding the real Santa Claus in this crowd could be a challenge, even for the keenest of senses. For a good view of the parade, stake a claim to a spot anywhere along the main Gatlinburg Parkway from traffic lights six through eight. The parade will begin at around 4 p.m. and is expected to last about an hour.

St. Patrick’s Day will culminate that evening at the festive Holly & Shamrock Gala Ball for ticketed guests at the Tennessee Ballroom of the convention center at 6:30 p.m.

THERE BE REINDEER!

Live reindeer will take center stage at “Santa Central.” The Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association (ROBA) will be holding its annual convention in conjunction with “Celebrate Santa 2009.”

According to Kyle Wilson, outgoing president of ROBA, and owner of Rocky Hill Reindeer farms in Knoxville, Tenn., the 250-member organization will offer workshops for Santa’s helpers in all things reindeer, along with other presentations specifically for ROBA members.

“There will be educational opportunities for the public,” Wilson said. “I will have reindeer on display during the three-day convention. And with the reindeer being at the convention floor center, they will be easy for the public to find.”

All in all, the event promises to be a giant Christmas stocking filled with presents and goodies for participants and spectators alike. And late at night, when all is quiet, if you stop and listen, you might just hear sleigh bells passing somewhere overhead.

CELEBRATE SANTA 2009 INFO AND MORE
What: “Celebrate Santa 2009”
Where: Gatlinburg Convention Center, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
When: March 16-18
Santa’s Showcase: At the Gatlinburg Convention Center, open to the public on March 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and March 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $3 per person with those 15 and under admitted free.
Other events: Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association will also be on hand during the event.

WEB SITE LINKS
For more information, visit the following Web sites:
Celebrate Santa 2009: www.HollyandShamrock.com
Celebrate Santa blog: http://celebratesanta.blogspot.com
Gatlinburg Convention Center – Gatlinburg Department of Tourism: www.gatlinburg-tennessee.com/conventions/center.html. You can also visit the following sites: www.gatlinburg.com and www.eventsgatlinburg.com.
Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association: www.reindeer.ws
Rocky Hill Reindeer: www.reindeerman.com
www.TheSantaClaus.com or e-mail Santa@TheSantaClaus.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bill McKee, a longtime employee with the Bristol Herald Courier, has been Santa for several years. He is the official Santa for the town of Damascus, Va., appearing in the Christmas parade there each year.
During the holiday season, McKee is on the go full-time, taking time off from work to volunteer with a number of agencies in the region which serve families and children in need. Some of his most cherished Christmas visits are with special needs children and adults.
McKee does not hang up the suit once Dec. 26 arrives. Throughout the year, he travels to the St. Jude Childrens Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic and the Niswonger Children’s Hospital at the Johnson City Medical Clinic in Johnson City, Tenn.
McKee will be traveling to Gatlinburg in March to document “Celebrate Santa 2009.” He will be sending stories and photos to share with Herald Courier readers.
www.TheSantaClaus.com or e-mail Santa@TheSantaClaus.com
Bill also edits and produces a newsletter for Santa's helpers, The Red Suit Gazette, which can be found online, here: http://theredsuitgazette.thebrotherhooddds.com