COVID Christmas Will Include 'Touchless Experience' With Santa

Mall Santas will be nearly as ubiquitous as ever this year, but they will offer a ''touchless experience'' to children wanting to talk to St. Nick to tell him their Christmas gift wish lists amid concerns about the novel coronavirus, the second largest mall operator in the United States says.

Plexiglass partitions, video conference calls, snow globe settings or Santa sitting behind a giant picture frame are what’s in store for the Christmas season.

''Think of this like a drive-up window type of scenario,'' Rocell Viniard, the director of portfolio marketing Brookfield Properties, a subsidiary of the second-largest mall operator in the United States, told CNN. ''Guests will be able to walk up and have their conversation with Santa and then turn for the framed photo.''

In Canada, at malls managed by Cadillac Fairview, photographers will take pictures from a perspective that gives the illusion children and Santa appear next to one another, Canadian Press reported.

Brookfield Properties parent Brookfield Asset Management Property Partners says 134 of its more than 150 malls across the United States will have a Santa Claus, but no one will be permitted to sit on the jolly old elf’s lap.

"Every (visit) will be contactless,'' Viniard said. ''So, kids can sit on wrapped packages near Santa, or across the table from Santa and have a conversation. We can still capture the memory for family photos."

Santa will wear a mask in states with a requirement, and guests likewise will be required to have masks. In states with no requirement, Santa may wear a mask if he wants to, she said.

In some malls where Santa will start appearing on Nov. 20, Santa will appear to sit inside a giant snow globe. Elsewhere, Santa will be behind a giant picture frame.

Mall operator PREIT, whose 19 malls are primarily on the East Coast, including the Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey and the Willow Grove Park Mall in Pennsylvania, will have Santa behind plexiglass. A meeting with their Santas will require a reservation.

PREIT is also offering a video conference option.

"In lieu of a photo with Santa, you can have a recording of your Zoom call," PREIT spokeswoman Heather Crowell said.

"Santa is an important holiday tradition for many families but we are looking to pivot the experience for safety," Viniard said.

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