With Deptford Mall visit, Santa Claus is already in town

DEPTFORD TWP. Nearly an hour before the most famous man to ever wear a red suit made his appearance, 3-year-old Kirsten Flood stood waiting patiently behind the velvet rope, her eyes fixed on the festive throne where she would tell him her Christmas wishes.

"She's really excited about seeing him and wanted to be the first one to talk to him," said grandmother Doris Flood, of Alloway. "Usually we wait until a little later in the month."

But, dressed in her red velvet Santa dress with matching fur-lined hat, little Kirsten knew the time was right on Friday as the Deptford Mall welcomed Santa, Mrs. Claus and many of their North Pole friends.

"I'm going to ask for a bike, a baby doll and a Barbie," said Kirsten. "My puppy Krypto ate my other Barbie. He's on Santa's naughty list this year."

Kirsten said she was excited to see Santa because "he brings me all the presents" and said she had met Mrs. Claus the week before at Storybook Land.

Slowly but surely, more kids dressed in their holiday best joined Kirsten and her family in line, and by the time Santa made his arrival in a parade featuring Rudolph, Frosty and festive Christmas music, there was a swarm of eager visitors.

Some mall-goers had good reason for choosing to see Santa so early this year.

"We came early to beat the crowds because she won't hold up in a long line," said Dawn Reckard of Bellmawr, looking down at 7-week-old Lauren. "I'm going to have Santa hold her and pose with my two other kids and hopefully I can get a picture with her eyes open."

"We go to Germany for part of the year and they don't have the traditional Santa there," said Brenda Slaney of Gloucester Township. "We're leaving soon so this was our opportunity to see him."

Tyler Slaney, 7, said he was planning to request a PSP hockey game while little sister Julia, 2, just wanted "lots of toys."

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