Ebenezer Scrooge strikes again.
It appeared as though the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department had figured out a way to host one of its most popular holiday events but with an emphasis on safety.
Saturday, Dec. 5, was the date scheduled for a free and unique experience called Visit with Santa as he makes a stop in Sedona from the North Pole. However, the city announced on its website on Monday, Nov. 30, that staff canceled the event out of an abundance of caution and due to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases.
“We were really looking forward to holding this event, but even with all the safety precautions we had planned, it’s not a good idea to gather large groups right now,” Recreation Coordinator Ali Baxter said on the website.
She added that the city’s Parks and Recreation Department wishes everyone a happy holiday season and looks forward to hosting events again in 2021 when it is safe to do so.
This event was to consist of 12 family “pods” per 15 minutes from 8 to 10 a.m. at the outdoor pavilion at Posse Grounds Park. Families would have been assigned a pod number, where they would have been a safe distance away from other families while waiting for their turn to visit with Santa Claus himself.