A celebration that has spanned nearly a century will continue in Watson.
The 93rd Annual Santa Claus Day is set for December 6 &7, with plenty of activities throughout the two days.
Roxanne Bagnall, the Chair of the Santa Claus Day committee says there are plenty of activities for the entire family.
Festive Friday (Dec. 6) begins with the Flavours of the Philippines Food Booth provided by local Filipino families at 6:00 inside of the Civic Centre Main Hall, along with the turkey shoot and kids activities.
There will also be a mini-Christmas market at New Horizons and free pictures with Santa Claus at Affinity Credit Union.
On Main Street, there will be sleigh rides, bonfires, stuff the bus with Duck Mountain Ambulance and stores will be open late. The tree lighting will be at 8:45 on the Civic Centre lawn and the day will be capped off with fireworks at 9:00.
Santa Saturday (Dec.7) begins with a pancake breakfast at New Horizons at 8:00, hosted by the McNab Regional Park.
At the Watson Arena from 11:30-1, there also will be free public skating along with cookie decorating and craft making inside of the lobby.
Inside the Watson School Gym at 2:00, they will be showing the movie Klaus.
Everything will come to an end with Supper with Santa at the Civic Centre at 5:30.
Bagnall explains the Santa Claus Day began when local hardware owner Jake Smith started the event in 1931 by having Santa coming in on the train and then invited the children to the hardware where they would get treat bags. After a successful initial event, local businesses began taking part the following year.
The big celebration of Santa Claus may be taking part in the beginning of December, jolly old St. Nick is recognized by the community year-round with the giant statue of Santa Claus located near the intersection of highways 5 & 6.
Along with the statue at the Santa site, Bagnall explains that you can take pictures with elves along with Santa and there are picnic tables and a garden as well.
She noted it was residents of Watson who wanted Santa to be showcased with a statue. He arrived via truck from Regina in 1996 and has been greeting visitors ever since.