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Gift Guide 2018

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; Santa Claus recently made his way back to the Wyoming Valley Mall for the holidays, marking the festive season with a fun-filled SantaFest event Saturday.</p><p>Excited children filled the mall&#8217;s center court, partaking in activities and interacting with several fun characters as they waited to meet the jolly old man in the red suit.</p><p>Clad as a toy soldier, Erin Grins towered over some adoring fans on her stilts. Grins was just one of the characters &#8212; along with a sparking silver-and-white ornament on roller skates and elves that spin plates on wooden sticks &#8212; on hand to entertain and delight.</p><p>The characters were from Bongarbiz, an entertainment company founded by a former Ringling Bros. clown.</p><p>&#8220;I just love meeting and interacting with all the people,&#8221; Grins said of her character as she jumped up and down on her stilts. &#8220;It&#8217;s a really fun way to see the world.&#8221;</p><p>Sarah Blat, of Larksville, brought her son and two daughters to meet Santa, along with two sisters-in-law and their children.</p><p>&#8220;My two older ones are fine with Santa, but (the youngest) isn&#8217;t a big fan,&#8221; Blatt said of 1-year-old Emma.</p><p>As children indulged in free cookies and coloring, Sara Miller was busy helping parents choose the best photo. The location manager for Cherry Hill Programs said this is the first year her company is working with the Wyoming Valley Mall.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s all different (photo) packages, and also pet photos on Mondays,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The kids are always amazing and cute.&#8221;</p><p>Watching Grins as they waited in line, Marianeli Torres and her children couldn&#8217;t believe how much the event had to offer. Her first time using the mall to get photos with Santa, Torres compared the scene to that of her hometown.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s awesome, its really great. I thought I was at Times Square or something, because we&#8217;re from New York and we see stuff like that there,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Santa will remain at the Wyoming Valley Mall for pictures right up until he heads out to make his deliveries on Christmas Eve.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Santa&#8217;s Elf, Mary Kelly Rayel of Upper Black Eddy, performs for children at the Wyoming Valley Mall on Saturday afternoon during the mall&#8217;s SantaFest event. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_ttl111818santafest-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Santa&#8217;s Elf, Mary Kelly Rayel of Upper Black Eddy, performs for children at the Wyoming Valley Mall on Saturday afternoon during the mall&#8217;s SantaFest event. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_ttl111818santafest-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Heaven Heckstall-Didy, 4, of Pittston, poses with Santa&#8217;s helpers during SantaFest at the Wyoming Valley Mall. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_ttl111818santafest-5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Heaven Heckstall-Didy, 4, of Pittston, poses with Santa&#8217;s helpers during SantaFest at the Wyoming Valley Mall. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_ttl111818santafest-7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cousins Angelo Alba, 4, of Pittston, and Carmine Martinelli, 3, of Dureya, sit on Santa&#8217;s lap during SantaFest at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township on Saturday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_ttl111818santafest-7.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cousins Angelo Alba, 4, of Pittston, and Carmine Martinelli, 3, of Dureya, sit on Santa&#8217;s lap during SantaFest at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township on Saturday afternoon. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Mall kicks off holiday season with SantaFest