Santa makes virtual visit at Fayetteville City Hall

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Santa stopped in at Fayetteville City Hall on Dec. 8 for a virtual visit with kids who wanted to make sure he knew all about their Christmas wishes. Sitting at the right were city IT staff Kelvin Joiner and Jessica Smith, who arranged the virtual visits. Photo/Ben Nelms.
Santa stopped in at Fayetteville City Hall on Dec. 8 for a virtual visit with kids who wanted to make sure he knew all about their Christmas wishes. Sitting at the right were city IT staff Kelvin Joiner and Jessica Smith, who arranged the virtual visits. Photo/Ben Nelms.

The Covid-19 pandemic could not stop Santa Claus from visiting with kids in Fayetteville. Santa arrived at City Hall on Dec. 8 to visit virtually and to hear all those Christmas wishes.

City IT department staff Kelvin Joiner and Jessica Smith were on-hand in the council chambers to make sure the children who called in could connect virtually with the Jolly Old Elf (otherwise known as The Real Deal Santa Joe McGee), who provided his own unique form of Christmas magic to the occasion.

Santa was scheduled to visit with children during the Dec. 5 Christmas on Main Street event, which was cancelled due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in Georgia.

“I was disappointed to miss that opportunity to visit with the children of Fayetteville in person,” Santa said. “I thought the next best thing would be to visit with them using virtual-meeting technology.”

Commenting prior to the Dec. 8 visit, Mayor Ed Johnson said, “We are thrilled to have Santa visit with us on Tuesday. We’ll be sure to have plenty of milk and cookies ready for him and carrots for his reindeer.”