Germantown's Saddle Creek offers Santa experience for autistic children

Dec. 01--A couple of hours before stores open at Germantown'sSaddle Creek shopping center this Sunday, workers will turn off the lights and turn down the music in Santa's special area.

Then, and only then, the bearded fellow in red will offer a moment of Christmas magic for children who might be unable to process a traditional Santa experience.

It's called Santa Cares, and it's a program aimed at kids with autism or other sensory sensitivities. A specially trained Santa Claus will spend two hours Sunday, from 10 a.m. to noon, hearing the holiday wishes of such children in an effort, shopping center operators say, to ensure all children get a chance to experience Christmas.

"It's really geared toward kids who might be overwhelmed," said Heather Nordtvedt, Saddle Creek marketing manager. "They make it as calm and peaceful as possible. The staff will take special care to turn the lights off, reduce the volume of music, and they'll have activities while you wait."

Nordtvedt said Saddle Creek became involved with Santa Cares as the center planned for hosting Santa for the first time this year in Saddle Creek's 30-year history. She said the center wanted to make sure it involved everyone, from kids with special needs to pets.

To that end, a wildly popular Pet Night with Santa attracted some 40 people to have photos taken with their pets already, and another pet evening is planned. If the turnout for Sunday's event Sensory Santa is sufficient, Nordtvedt said a second event will be planned for that as well.

Several area malls -- Oak Court, Southland and Wolfchase -- offer similar Santa experiences along with other Tennessee malls through a partnership between Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs.

Nordtvedt said Saddle Creek decided to add Santa for the first time this year because there wasn't one in Germantown.

"Retail is always changing, and we're trying to find ways to make shopping an experience and appeal to everyone," she said. "There's not really a Santa Claus in Germantown ... so we saw a need for it."

In addition to Sunday's special Santa event, which is open to anyone, and the upcoming second pet event, Santa is available at Saddle Creek every day through Christmas Eve. Regular hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Santa is in Saddle Creek North (the original Saddle Creek Center), on the north side of Poplar, in the northernmost courtyard between Francesca's and Soft Surroundings.

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