A decade of lighting the tree and having a bearded Santa Claus take orders for his fabled sleigh ride doesn’t get old for hearty regulars to the event at Outlets of Vicksburg.
“We do it every year,” said Heather McNeill of Vicksburg, with sons, Chase, 8, and Hayden, 4, in tow.
What did they want St. Nick to bring? It didn’t matter, McNeill said, they’d have to wait a month for it.
“It’s not Christmas yet, Hayden,” she said.
Outlets at Vicksburg hosted the annual event for the tenth time this year. Highlighted by Santa’s arrival to light the huge, artificial tree, the mall’s first promotion of the holiday season drew heavy crowds, marketing and special events manager Manivanh Chanprasith said.
For first-timers to Vicksburg for the holidays, it was a time to observe and take it all in.
“This is more than what I expected from a small town,” said Matt Bickel, a U.S. Air Force recruiter who attended Saturday’s free event with his wife, Jackie, and 18-month-old-daughter, Bailey.