Santa Claus makes stops all over Grundy County leading up to Christmas

Butch and Paulie, Santa Claus’ event-planning elves, have Santa running quite the tight ship over the next month.

Santa traveled to the Coal City Fire Station, the Mazon Christmas Parade, the Weitz Café and more. With all these visits, he’s been running back and forth to prepare for an Evening with Santa from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 455 W. Southmor Road, Morris.

This year’s Evening with Santa is raising money to award $1,000 scholarships to future first responders. The requirements for these scholarships will be that the student has graduated from a high school in Grundy County with at least 30 hours toward a degree or certificate for training in law enforcement, fire science, emergency management or nursing.

The fundraising has already kicked off, as Butch and Paulie launched a raffle for a PlayStation 5 God of War Ragnarök Bundle. Tickets cost $10 and 100% of the proceeds help provide scholarships. Tickets are available at rafflecreator.com/pages/38061/santas-future-1st-responder-scholarship-raffle.

An Evening with Santa Claus will have plenty of opportunities for kids to enjoy the Christmas spirit, including pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and other characters, face painting, balloon animals, crafts and Christmas stories at Butch and Paulie’s Storyland.

After the event, Santa has even more appearances scheduled: From 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, for Breakfast with Santa at Clayton’s Tap, 122 W. Washington St., Morris; after breakfast Santa will join the Coal City Neighborhood parade and the Coal City Lion’s Club; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at D’arcy, 1850 N. Division St., Morris; and 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at Grundy Bank, 201 Liberty St.

For information about Santa Claus in Grundy County, visit santaclausiscomingtogrundycounty.org.