Christmas arrived in Kendall amidst bright sunshine under waving fronds that began The Palms first holiday season since completing its “new look.”
St. Nick and Mrs. Claus arrived Dec. 7 with a police escort in an open Mercedes Benz convertible that matched the contemporary style of the plaza that is completing a three-year redevelopment begun in 2008-09.
Crowds of kids were treated to gifts, face painting and holiday music with the first 150 smallfry receiving $35 gift cards or a free holiday blanket after telling their Christmas wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Claus under a tented canopy.
All received free photos while sitting in Santa’s lap while parents were welcome to try a free massage next door. Ten tons of “real snow” kept hundreds joyously tossing snowballs from 3 to 7 p.m. before an 84-degree sun ended the fun.
The afternoon-long celebration wound up with a screening of the movie Elf from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in a roped-off square at a central parking lot.
