Two mums determined their kids would not miss out on any more fun due to Covid organised a feelgood festive event – in just 48 hours.
Huntly Rotary Club announced on Friday that it was cancelled its much-anticipated Santa in the Square event due to the worsening Covid situation.
The decision came as a huge disappointment to the town, with children big and small looking forward to getting into the festive spirit with Santa and his reindeer.
Corey Combe and Di Mitchell decided to pull their own event together, and were overwhelmed by the support from local shops, groups and organisations who made this afternoon’s event a success.
The crew from Huntly Fire Station gave Santa a lift to the square to meet the children, who were given selection boxes donated by the firefighters, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons Investment Ltd.
Fresh Turkish Barbers supplied electricity for the event to make sure JP the DJ could bring the celebrations to life with Christmas classics.
A Huntly tradition cancelled
Though outdoor events have not officially been banned, the worsening Covid situation has led many organisations to cancel plans in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
Mrs Combe admitted there was a sense of “disappointment” in the community after the rotary club’s plans were cancelled.
She said: “It had become a Huntly tradition, the kids get to see the reindeer, it’s a magical time and it brings everyone together.”
Her husband, Sam, suggested in a “tongue-and-cheek” post on Facebook that the community host the celebrations themselves and from there, the matters spiralled.
Miss Mitchell said she and Mrs Combe had been inundated with offers of help, with Huntly Golf Club giving out hot cups of soup and the Huntly and District Ex-Servicemen’s Club lending them the all-important Santa suit.
‘Kids have been the little superheroes’
Mrs Combe, mum to Arianna, 10, and Kora, six, was thrilled at the response.
“We needed to do something for the kids, I’m sick of them missing out on things all the time,” she said.
“The kids have been the little superheroes through all this, they have adapted and just got on with it, so why not give back to them at this time of year, let them have a normal Christmas.
“Last year was terrible, so it’s nice to have a bit more fun this year than we did last year.”
Miss Mitchell, mum to Mackenzie, 13, and Alexander, six, added: “The kids have missed out on so much at school – we weren’t allowed into their nativity this year, they didn’t get their sports day.
“It’s just for them, to bring a smile to their face.”
Any sweets or food leftover from will be donated to the local foodbank to ensure everything stays within the community.
