While COVID-19 continues to put a damper on some holiday event favourites in Airdrie, one Airdrie couple has found a gleeful way to spread the holiday bliss around.
 
Rhonda Kaisar and her husband are getting ready for their very own Santa Claus parade in their community in a few weeks' time.
 
"It came about last year when the Airdrie Christmas parade was cancelled. We as a family just wanted to do something for the neighbourhood and just put some smiles on their faces," she said. "I actually had the Santa suit and talked to my partner if he would be willing to dress up. He thought it was a great idea, so he dressed as Santa. We all had our little elf hats and we jumped in the back of our truck."
 
Kaisar said the family drove around and waved to neighbours who had gone out onto their driveways to see the local Kris Kringle, allowing everyone to enjoy some much-needed holiday levity, while still social distancing. This year, Kaiser is transforming herself into Santa's better half, which only makes sense.
 
"We decided to do it again this year and continue the tradition. I think we're going to go a little bit bigger this year. So I will be Mrs. Claus and John will be Santa again and the kids will be elves."
 
Kaisar said she is also contemplating a float and a few more holly jolly decorations to go along with the Claus family. When asked who in her family has more holiday spirit, Kaisar said her husband is no grinch, but rather goes with the yuletide flow.
 
"He just loves putting smiles on kids' faces. He's not the one to really get in there and decorate the tree, that's more my thing, but he is so game for doing anything that makes people smile," she said. 
 
When Kaisar was contemplating her mini Santa and Mrs. Claus parade, she reached out to her fellow neighbours to gauge the temperature.
 
"I had initially posted saying, 'is this something that the neighbourhood wants to see again or did you think it was tacky?'," she said. "Everyone that had commented saying, 'we absolutely want to see this again, the kids, they're still talking about it from last year.'"
 
For Kaisar, one of her favourite Christmas movies is Elf with Will Ferrell and coming in second Christmas with the Kranks. 
 
 

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