Better watch out – Santa Claus comin’ to Sonoma

Sonoma Valley better put on its best behavior – as well as its warmest sweaters, according to local weather forecasts – because Santa Claus is coming to town this Friday, Dec. 4.

Kris Kringle makes his 41st “first Friday of December” pit stop in the Valley this week, ringing in the season on the Plaza, where families are invited to gather and warm up with cocoa and candy canes while waiting for Santa to arrive. And just as the marshmallows are melting in that soothing mixture of choco sugar-water, Santa will step out in style atop Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority’s antique fire truck.

The festivities will include plenty of Santa – plus, the lighting of the Plaza tree and the Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley will be pouring its sweetsy Christmas cocoa brew for a mouthwatering 41st year.

“Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley has sponsored this event for 41 consecutive years as our ‘gift’ to the community,” said Cynthia Morris, the organization’s chairperson for Hot Chocolate with Santa.

Soroptimists will begin serving hot cocoa at 5 p.m., and Santa should make the scene around 5:30 p.m. When the Big Guy greets the families gathered at the Plaza, the lights on the Christmas tree at City Hall will be lit, courtesy the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.

Morris says she never gets tired of watching the spirit of the season in Sonoma.

“The women of the club all enjoy watching the families gather, especially the children, who are often dressed up in their holiday best,” Morris said. “I think I can speak for the other women in the club that we feel like we are the ones being given a gift, simply because of the joy being a part of such a wonderful community brings.”

Morris said the event couldn’t be possible without the generosity of several people in the community, including Soroptimist volunteers, who help set up, serve hot chocolate, hand out candy canes and clean up after the event – not to mention the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority’s Santa-chauffeuring duties and the Visitors Bureau’s tree lighting. She also acknowledged the City of Sonoma, which she said waived the fee for use of the Plaza this year.