Before Santa heads to the skies next month, he’ll take to the water for charity.
He’ll be waterskiing at Kearney’s Mirror Bay on Nov. 5, alongside Mrs. Claus and a full complement of elves, for the annual Santa Claus Charity Ski Show.
Admission is by donation of cash or non-perishable food items, which go towards the Kearney Lions Club Food Drive.
Scott Waites, Santa’s spokesperson for the event, says the performers are less concerned about chilly waters, and more concerned with hitting their fundraising goal of $5,000 and 2,000 pounds of food.
“The water temperature on the lakes is 45 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping fast,” says Waites. “But our challenge this year is to promote the local food bank, and work with the Lions to do that, because demand is up over 35 per cent.”
According to Waites, this year’s show will feature the most female skiers in the event’s history, as well as Orillia resident Jordan Long, who was named MVP at last week’s World Water Ski Show Tournament in Florida. He adds that The Grinch will take a break from stealing Christmas, trying to steal the show instead.
Waites says the event gets bigger every year, and the long-term goal is to create a full Santa Claus Festival, with the “jewel” being the waterskiing show.
“We’ll have a parade that starts at 1:00 p.m., we have food vendors on the streets, [and] all the local businesses have been activated,” says Waites. “So we’re looking for the biggest show and biggest fundraising goals to date. We’re pretty excited.”
The parade goes down Kearney’s Main St., and Waites says to come early to get a spot. The ski show’s opening ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m., with the show lasting about an hour.
If you’d like to help but cannot attend, e-transfer donations can be sent to [email protected].