Santa arrives at Arnotts with Special Guest Vogue Williams
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Written by The Christmas season is in full swing in Dublin’s Arnotts Department store after Santa Claus arrived with help from special guest, Vogue Williams, to open his Grotto.
Arriving on Sunday, November 18th, Santa Claus arrived to a huge welcome outside Arnotts on Henry Street in a Victorian horse drawn red carriage, where he was greeted by lots of excited children.
Vogue Williams and 12 year old Aina Rizwan accompanied by her Mother Kishwer Naheed lent a hand to ensure he arrived safely. This Christmas, Arnotts is supporting Saint Vincent de Paul and Pieta House as their charities of the year and 100% of all donations from Santa’s grotto will go to both charities. Arnotts are asking for a voluntary donation of €5 per family for visiting Santa.
Meanwhile, the success of last years ‘Arnotts Santa Postal Parade’ means it returns again this year, taking place every Saturday and Sunday in December, as well as Christmas eve. The Postal Parade will be delivering wonder for everyone to enjoy. The Postal Parade will take place at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Children are encouraged to join in the fun and march with Santa’s elves to make sure their letters reach Santa in time for Christmas.
The parade will see a brass band accompany some of Santa’s hardworking elves as they march to one of Santa’s special post boxes to collect the letters for Santa, who will be busy trying to see all the boys and girls at the Arnotts Grotto before Christmas Eve.
At Santa’s arrival, Vogue Williams said: “I absolutely adored meeting Santa at arnotts as a child. It was always a Christmas tradition in our house and I’d arrive with a list as long as my arm! I cannot wait for Theodore’s first Christmas, it makes it so much more special for us this year. I’m putting my tree up next week because I’m too excited to wait”
Kieran Stafford, National President, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said that the Society is sincerely grateful to Arnotts for selecting it as one of the recipients to benefit from Santa’s grotto. “This support is vital to ensure that SVP volunteers can provide the necessary help and comfort to thousands of families who are struggling. Last year SVP volunteers visited approximately 50,000 families over the winter and we expect to visit at least the same number this year.”
Speaking on behalf of Pieta House, CEO Brian Higgins said “For Pieta House it costs approximately €1,000 to bring one person through our service. We are extremely grateful to Arnott’s to be their charity partner and the funds raised will go a long way to help us provide our nationwide services which are free of charge and freely available therapeutic services to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm.”
The Arnotts virtual Santa Q returns this year and means that families don’t have to spend hours waiting in line to visit Santa Claus. Tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis each day in-store and families can engage in festive activities across the store as they wait. A notification text will let families know when it’s almost time to meet Santa Claus so they have plenty of time to make their way to the Grotto.
Every family will have their photo taken with Santa during their visit and afterwards can purchase Christmas frames (€7) Santa door hangers (€6), magnetic snow decorations (€8), snow globes (€14), a key ring and magnet (€10), a Christmas bauble (€10) or copies of their photo (2 for €15) with extra copies for (€5) a multi sheet of pictures for €10 at the grotto.
Arnotts will extend its opening hours for the Christmas season with later closing times for the store throughout November and December. For more information on opening hours, visit www.arnotts.ie