Oxford Valley Mall Hosts Santa Sessions for Special Needs Children Sunday

Oxford Valley Mall will host a Santa Weekend on Sunday, Dec. 8 with two festive and unique holiday events.

Kicking off the events from 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m. will be Caring Santa, a special event dedicated to families that have children with special needs, providing a subdued environment to visit the Santa Photo Experience.

Simon Property Group’s Caring Santa program began in 2010 in partnership with AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community, to take steps to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s magical visit with Santa. The environment is likely to include:

• Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the Santa set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains during the event.
• Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
• Special activities and stories geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

Shoppers are encouraged to RSVP for the Caring Santa event by visiting www.caringsanta.com.

Later in the evening, Oxford Valley Mall will host its annual Pet Photo Night from 8–9 p.m. during which families and their beloved pets are invited for a special holiday photo with Santa.

“In addition to providing our customers with fantastic holiday shopping options, we are equally thrilled to be able to host such special and memorable programs as Caring Santa,” said Jim Malervy, Director of Mall Marketing. “The Caring Santa program brings a lot of joy to children with special needs and to see that happen at our mall is truly an honor.”