The 28th annual Santa’s Village will be held Dec. 6-9 at UTM’s Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.
Santa’s Village is an event sponsored mostly by the City of Martin and UTM. Additional sponsors for this year’s event will be University Plaza, First State Bank, MTD Products, Tyson Foods, Greenball, Savant Learning Systems and Frontier Communications. WCMT also sponsors a can caravan each year for canned food donations that are collected at several schools.
Santa’s Village depends mainly on support from volunteers to make the event successful. Many UTM students volunteer their time prior to the event to set up the entire inside of the Ag Pavilion as a Christmas wonderland as well as during the event. There are many volunteer positions available, such as working as Santa’s Elves.
The event features different activities such as an enchanted forest, a model train display, different arts and crafts, children’s rides, a petting farm, live entertainment and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, wagon rides will also be available.
According to University Relations, “$983,163, have been distributed to area residents who need [extra help and] 254,621 people have attended Santa’s Village [throughout the years].”
Santa’s Village is not designed to be a money-making operation. There is no admission to the event, however a donation of $5 worth of nonperishable food and/or toys is suggested. Each donation goes to one of the charities Santa’s Village supports.
According to the City of Martin website, “food items and toys are divided among several service agencies who distribute them to the less fortunate families in the area in order to make their Christmas a little bit happier.”
This year’s charities include Chimes for Charity, We Care Ministries, Obion County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Santa’s Helpers and Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council.
According to a University Relations’ press release, program director Kim Kirby at Martin Parks and Recreation Department said, “We would like to thank the sponsors and volunteers who contribute time and money.”
Santa’s Village will be open Thursday Dec. 6 and Friday Dec 7. From 6 until 9 p.m. Saturday Dec. 8, the hours will be from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. The hours on Sunday Dec. 9 will be 1 to 5 p.m.
For more information about volunteering opportunities, check www.utmpacer.com next week.
