Santa Claus came to town on Thursday night, making a stop at Porter Regional Hospital. He brought his lovely wife, Mrs. Claus, and they happy spent time with the children of the area, listening attentively about Christmas lists and wishes.
Families gathered to see the man in red as he sat in front of Porter's huge 12' high Christmas tree. He performed magic tricks for the kids and made note of what they wished to have for Christmas while parents captured the moments on camera.
"We came here to listen to see the good boys and girls," Santa said. "This is a wonderful time for the community to come together and we love coming to Porter to visit."
As an added holiday bonus, Valparaiso High School's Varsity Singers held a lovely performance for guests, staff, and patients at Porter. They stood on the stairs in the lobby and sang favorites like "Carol of the Bells" and "Go Tell it on the Mountain".
"We thought we would do something different this year and come to Porter," VHS Choral Director Linda Schonbachler. "We wanted to spread some Christmas cheer here. The kids love to sing and we've performed all over town."
Bonny Hildebrand, Senior Circle and Community Programming Coordinator for Porter helped bring this event to life.
"Children of all ages come here to see Santa and listen to the Varsity Singers," Hildebrand said. "I think it's important to give back to the community and show that the hospital is more than just a place to come when you are sick. It's also a place for people to gather and enjoy what Valparaiso has to offer."
And many did gather. Guests brought their children, patients came to listen to the kids sing, and staff members from Porter even stopped to enjoy the festivities.
"I actually heard the music as I was coming into the hospital to do my rounds," Dr. William Nowlin, general surgeon at Porter said. "I couldn't not come to this. The music is just beautiful."
"I'm here with my grandson and wife," Dr. Jac Cooper, general surgeon at Porter said. "We came to see Santa. And the Varsity Singers is a huge plus."
Guests could also bring in an unwrapped toy that would be collected for Toys for Tots. It was a night of merriment and cheer that many will remember.