WHEELING, W.Va. — A different kind of holiday experience is available during on the next two Fridays in Ohio County.
Wheeling Park and the Augusta Levy Learning Center are partnering to offer a “Silent Santa” event for kids with autism or other special needs.
“Holiday times are stressful for really any family, but more so for families with children who have special needs,” said Mark Carson, sales manager for Wheeling Park.
Those attending “Silent Santa” on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 in Wheeling Park’s Fireplace Room from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. will visit with Santa and get a picture in a calm environment.
“We’re not going to have large crowds. We’re doing it in small groups of about five to ten kids. We’ll have no bright lights, no loud music. We’re just trying to remove all of the things that can be stressful for children with special needs,” Carson explained.
Admission to “Silent Santa” at Wheeling Park is free, though guests are encouraged to make a donation of $10 or some other amount to Augusta Levy.
Pre-registration is recommended by calling 304-243-4186.
“It just gives the opportunity to have a more normalized holiday,” said Haley Rauschenberg, outreach specialist for Augusta Levy Learning Center.
It’s the first time for the event at Wheeling Park and a personal project for Carson who started in his job earlier this year.
“It’s something that’s always been really near and dear to my heart,” he said.
“I’ve wanted to try it, so I got the go-ahead to put on this event and, working closely with Augusta Levy which is an autism awareness organization in the (Ohio) Valley, we’re just trying to put it on and give people a more normalized holiday time.”
The initial “Silent Santa” was held last Friday, Dec. 7 at Wheeling Park, a sister park to Oglebay Resort located on National Road in Wheeling.
Similar events have been held this holiday season in other parts of West Virginia.