(CREDIT: Al Benson)

Opening a three-day visit, Santa Claus (Paul Eggert of Aurora) heard kids’ holiday wishes, posed for photos and accepted donations of toys Tuesday (July 25, 2018) in Aurora.

Banana Split soft-serve ice cream parlor, 820 Church Road in Aurora, sponsored Santa’s annual visit through Thursday, July 26. Eggert grows a beard for the event annually.

At an outdoor workshop in the store’s parking lot, Santa and his elf, Lauren Wiesbrook of Aurora, greeted kids from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

The event was also a dropoff location for new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots drive​.

A Sa​lvation Army soldier ​accept donations at a red kettle while an Army brass quartet performed holiday tunes on tuba, trumpets and trombone.

A picnic table was outfitted with crayons and drawings for coloring. A mail station was provided for letters to Santa.

Holiday flavors and products were featured each day!

Wiesbrook distributed candy canes and photographed everyone who talked with Santa. Photos were posted to the parlor’s Facebook page nightly.

Lisa and Randy Brown, store co-owners, said, “Feel free to tag yourself or copy and print the pictures for your enjoyment.”

Call 630-896-8690 for more information.

SOURCE: News release courtesy of Al Benson