You've got kids, or maybe you've got grandkids. One of the joys of being a parent/grandparent (at least for my wife and me) was taking the kids to see Santa during the holiday season.

We went to see Santa at Colonial Village, CherryVale Mall, and Machesney Park Mall over the years, and we remember each of those visits very fondly. I still keep this photo on my office wall after almost 20 years:

Riley O'Neil/Townsquare Media
Riley O'Neil/Townsquare Media
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This year is a completely different year, as you've no doubt noticed. The opportunity to sit on Santa's lap is not happening anywhere, but the chance to at least get some face-time with Kris Kringle and the kids is happening right here in Rockford.

Thanks to the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB), Virtual Visits With Santa will be held from 1-6pm on the next three December Sundays; December 6, December 13 and December 20.

Given the amount of families that will want to take advantage of the virtual Santa chats, it would be a great idea to get yourself registered for a visit, because the 3-minute time-slots available will fill up really fast, and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Click here for more information on registering your visit.

Given our own experience as parents taking our kids for a Santa's lap visit, this virtual thing might be better than an in-person visit. My son's first trip to see Santa at Colonial Village resulted in him completely freaking out in fear of the big, bearded guy in the red suit. He wouldn't sit on Santa's lap unless his mom did, too. So, Amy sat on Santa's lap, and Spencer sat on Amy's lap. That satisfied my son, but---it sure seemed to me that Santa enjoyed it just a little too much.

 

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