Reindeer Festival Begins, Health Care Workers Honored

GREENWICH, CT — The rain subsided just in time to honor health care workers and kick-off the 13th annual Reindeer Festival and Santa's Workshop at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses on Friday afternoon in Greenwich.

The event will run through Dec. 24. Visitors (dogs included) will have the chance to have their photos taken with Santa Claus, meet his live reindeer and also enjoy the new spacious Santa's Workshop, which will feature a reindeer coloring station and a spot where children can write letters to Santa.

Santa arrived at the nursery in style in a Mercedes-Benz convertible, greeting guests who had gathered for the opening ceremony shortly after 12 p.m. Friday.

After brief remarks welcoming everyone back for this year's festivities, a mural was unveiled which honors Greenwich Hospital and health care workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The digitally created piece was created by Florida artist Rick Garcia, and sponsored by Greenwich's C. Parker Gallery.

Guests to Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouses will have the chance to sign the mural before it goes to Greenwich Hospital after Dec. 24.

Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly said she was "delighted" to accept the mural, and that it will serve as a reminder of all the hard work that goes into serving the community, especially during the pandemic.

"We look at us as going through this unprecedented time with all of you. We did this with you, and we did this for you," Kelly said. "We continue to feel our community's embrace, our community's cards and letters, thank you signs, drive-by parades, warm meals, sweet treats, and many incredible gestures of solidarity and kindness."

Kelly said she was particularly excited to see so many children out and about and enjoying the festivities.

A portion of all proceeds from photos with Santa will be donated to Kids In Crisis, an organization based in Cos Cob that provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis.

"Greenwich Hospital's work with caring for children is very important to us. For us to be part of a children's event, especially an event that helps support Kids In Crisis, anything we can do to partner with them, we're always looking to do that," Kelly added. "We will be very proudly displaying this [mural] so all of our health care workers can feel the support and appreciation that's here today."

Garcia said he completed the mural over two days, and had several designs before he finally decided on the finished product. The mural features splashes of color, a child playing with a nurse superhero action figure, a stethoscope in the shape of a heart, a nurse's face, a butterfly and the word "Love."

"I've had nurses in my life, and I do have some health care workers in my family," Garcia said. "It's quite special."

Tiffany Benincasa, Principal at C. Parker Gallery, said health care workers have been "tireless" in their efforts over the last 20 months.

"They never wavered and they were always there for all of us. We're very, very grateful," she said.

After the mural was unveiled, guests went inside to take photos with Santa.

New to the event for 2021 will be a "Name The Baby Reindeer" contest. One of the reindeer recently had a baby, and the calf will join the festivities this year with his mother.

Santa will choose the winning name on Dec. 24. The winner will receive a Mercedes-Benz Kids Pedal Car.

A second Mercedes-Benz Kids Pedal Car will be a part of a raffle for everyone who has their photo with Santa, which will also be chosen by Santa on Dec. 24.

For more details on the festival, including prices for photo packages with Santa, hours, and activities, go to the Reindeer Festival website.