Santa Claus will begin a busy schedule of fundraising in the Otley area this weekend.

Santa’s grotto, organised by Otley Lions, will start operating at Stephen H Smith’s garden centre each weekend from Saturday until December 16.

The Lions’ Santa will also be making a number of appearances in the area during the next few weeks, starting with a sleigh visit to Market Place for the switching on of this year’s Christmas lights on November 19.

He will then be giving out presents from his Mercury Row grotto at the Otley Victorian Fayre on December 9, before beginning a series of sleigh ride visits. They will take in:

  • Pool-in-Wharfedale on December 16
  • Riverside and Gills areas in Otley on December 18
  • St David’s Road and Croft House area on December 19.

Santa will also be appearing at Otley Farmers’ Market on December 23, when he will also travel to the town’s Waitrose store.

His final public appearance in Otley this year will be at Waitrose again on Christmas Eve. Otley Lions’ Christmas activities are its main source of fundraising, and regularly bring in about £5,000, which is distributed to a variety of good causes.