(Nov. 30, 2017) Santa’s House will be open for visits on Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9 and 23 from 4-7 p.m. Children are encouraged to write a letter to Santa with their holiday wishes in Ocean Pines.

Those letters can be delivered to Santa’s special mailbox located inside the Ocean Pines Community Center, at 235 Ocean Parkway. There is no charge for this Santa experience.

Before visiting Santa, stop by the Ocean Pines Community Center to enjoy “Breakfast with Santa Claus & Friends” on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 8-11 a.m. The cost is free for children ages 3 and under, $5 for children ages 4-10 and $7 for ages 11 and up.

Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped, new gift or nonperishable food items for local families in need. Families can also bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to The Children’s House by The Sea.

The Reindeer Lane Gift Shop, also held on Dec. 2 from 8-11 a.m. at the community center, is a holiday “store” where children will be able to purchase gifts for family and friends. Items for children and adults, all $5 or less, will be available. Gift donations for the shop are now being accepted.

Kris Kringle is ditching the holiday-famed Santa suit for a pair of swim trunks and flip-flops at the annual “Swim with Santa” on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sports Core Pool, located at 11143 Cathell Road in Ocean Pines.

The fee is $6 for swimmers and $3 for non-swimmers. Donations of food and unwrapped toys will also be accepted on behalf of the Worcester County Sheriff Department’s “Christmas for the Needy” program.

Santa will wrap up his stay in Ocean Pines by running in the first SantaCon 5K Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 16 at noon. The family-friendly race benefits Achilles International Maryland Chapter, an organization that works to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in running events.

The pre-registration fee for the fun run is $25. Register online by visiting raceentry.com/races/ocean-pines-santa-con-5k-fun-run/2017/register or at the Ocean Pines Community Center at 235 Ocean Parkway. In-person registration on the day of the event is $35. The first 100 registered runners are guaranteed an event T-shirt.

All of these events are open to the public. For more information, call the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-641-7052.