VERNON -- Santa Claus has taken up residency in the Rockville section of Vernon for the first time in decades. This holiday season, children can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in their newly constructed house in Rockville’s Central Park.
The new house is part of an old tradition from the 70s. Lifelong Rockville resident Michael Wendus organized the project with the help of Facebook and other Rockville residents who wanted to bring this old memory back to life.
“Every year we looked forward to coming back because you got to see Santa in his house and that’s what made it so special,” said Wendus.
The house was funded by donations and built by residents who donated their time to make the 8-by-12 foot design a reality.
Santa Claus entered the new house for the first time on Friday night as part of the town’s Winterfest festivities. Children lined up for hours to visit with him inside the house and tell him what they want for Christmas.
“It’s so nice to see it in the kids’ eyes, but also in the parent eyes and how much joy it still brings them just to see those kids light up,” said Darcy Desmond, another lifelong Rockville resident who worked on the project.
Organizers plan to store the house throughout the year and bring it back to Central Park every December.
This season, children can visit with Santa Claus every weekend leading up to Christmas from 12-5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays.
