Selfies with Santa Claus will be a new feature of the Legends Outlets’ 12th annual Legendary Tree Lighting Ceremony Saturday, Nov. 19.
The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. in the civic courtyard fountain area, near the 45-foot holiday tree. The tree has synchronized LED lights. The event is free and open to the public.
According to a spokesman for the Legends Outlets, Santa Claus will be stationed in a sleigh near the center courtyard from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and from 8 to 9 p.m. to take selfies with visitors. Those interested in taking a picture with Santa need to bring their own cameras.
At 7:45 p.m., Santa Claus will join the master of ceremonies and lead a countdown to the synchronized tree lighting display. Afterward, Santa will return to the sleigh to take more selfies with visitors.
As in past years, there will be live holiday music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. leading up to the tree lighting countdown.
Local musicians who are scheduled to perform classic holiday tunes include:
• Nick Nave: Red Guitar
• Heather Thornton: Heather Thornton Band
• Jill Francis: Saucy Jack, Killer Queen (Queen Tribute), Landslide Tribute (Fleetwood Mac Tribute), Elton Dan and The Rocket Band (Elton John Tribute)
• John Laffoon: Rusty Laffoon and the Broken Wagon Band
• Daniel and Jacob: Blackbird Revue
• Paul Horton: Red Guitar
• Dylan Reiter: Lauren Anderson Band, Cantaloupe City
• Adam Stuber: Lauren Anderson Band, Cantaloupe City
Besides the live music and the selfies with Santa Claus, there will be prize giveaways, caricature drawings, kids activities, complimentary refreshments, a mass balloon release, winter warmth donation collection and a live reindeer.
One live reindeer will be stationed by Santa’s sleigh and available for photos starting at 5 p.m., and guests may take photos until 9 p.m., according to a spokesman.
The balloon release is scheduled for about 7:55 p.m. Children and families may pick up a free holiday balloon for the mass balloon release. After the lights are turned on, the balloons will be released.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m., foam antlers and light-up noses will be given to children on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last, according to the spokesman. Also, T-Rex Café will have children’s activities on site.
Two caricaturists will be on hand to draw guests until 9 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. This activity is free.
From 6 to 8 p.m., guests who are 18 and older may visit the Legends Outlets’ registration table and sign up for its VIP club to enter to win one of 10 prizes, including store, restaurant and entertainment gift cards, valued at $25 or more. Prize winners will be randomly selected and announced throughout the ceremony.
There also will be a collection of winter clothes, with the United Way of Wyandotte County on-site collecting donations for those in need. Guests may donate new or gently used clean coats; and new hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks and blankets.
The Legends Outlets also is launching a holiday social media contest on Saturday, Nov. 19, which will last through Monday, Dec. 19.
Starting with the tree lighting ceremony Saturday, guests may share holiday pictures at Legends Outlets and post them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #LegendsHoliday.
Legends Outlets will track the hashtag and award social media followers with prizes throughout the four-week contest, including merchandise, store gift cards and a $500 Legends Outlets gift card as the grand prizes. For more information, visit the Legends Outlets Facebook page.