UTM students often are part of the crowd at the annual Santa’s Village event.
This year, Santa’s Village happened Thursday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Ned McWherter Ag Pavilion at UTM. The pavilion is next door to Hardy Graham football stadium.
“People go to Santa’s Village to enjoy the Christmas lights and have fun with friends,” said Tyshawn Young, a Political Science major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Other students also talked about the lights, which are part of the Enchanted Forest every year.
“Santa’s Village is such a beautiful light scenery that everyone in Martin should experience,” said Kaitlyn Thompson, an Agriculture Business major from Columbia, Tennessee.
Mollie Stroup, an Integrated Studies major from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, agreed.
“I came to Santa’s Village to see all of the pretty lights,” she said.
Santa’s Village also is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. According to Martin Parks and Recreation, visitors to the Village represent families with younger children, local and UTM students, and come from Tennessee and surrounding states, such as Kentucky and Illinois.
The Village also has live entertainment, a petting farm, children’s rides, a model train display, visits with Santa and shopping at arts and crafts booths.
Admission is free, but visitors are asked to donate $5 in canned goods or toys.
Every year, the donations are sent to We Care Ministries in Martin. They distribute food and toys to those in need in the community.
One student who attended Santa’s Village said he appreciated the culture at UTM, and Santa’s Village is part of the culture.
“I grew up close to UTM, and after comparing most colleges in Tennessee, I decided this school had the best culture and cost,” said Austin Shafter, an Accounting and Finance major from Gleason, Tennessee.
Zackary Wagenmaker, an Accounting and Finance major from Allendale, Michigan, just wanted to hang out with his friends.
“I went to Santa’s Village because my friends asked me to,” he said.
Dates already have been set for Santa’s Village next year. In 2020, the dates are Dec. 10-13, according to Martin Parks and Recreation.
