Publisher’s Note — This is part of a series The 830 Times team is running about upcoming holiday events. To have your event included, please email ljzlka8@gmail.com and we will work to have your event in the appropriate edition.
By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Mark your schedules for the various Christmas-related events scheduled throughout the city with music, cookies and hot cocoa, as well as some visits from Santa Claus.
Lights at the Museum – The Whitehead Museum, 1308 S. Main St., hosts its annual toy and food drive Friday, Dec. 13. Michael Diaz, executive director of the Whitehead Museum, said
people can bring non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys on the day of the event.
Diaz also mentioned the price of admission would be the nonperishable goods or unwrapped toys people bring at the door.
Face painting and arts-and-crafts events will be set up for children and Santa Claus will be handing out goodie bags. The Cadena Nativity Scene will be open for the public to view, and performances will be provided by the Elementary and Garfield school choir groups; the Ballet Folklorico group from the Casa de la Cultura and Sons of Sycamore, a local band.
Cocoa with a Cop – The Del Rio Police Department (DRPD) will host a public event on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. held in the 
lobby of the police station at 101 Lowe Drive. The DRPD will provide coffee, hot cocoa and cookies for those who attend and Christmas music will be provided as well.
DRPD Sgt. Jesus Galindo said there will be coloring activities for kids, and animals to adopt will be provided by the city’s animal services division. The police department will also debut its new mascot, Itchy the Dog.
Send Your Letter to Santa – Southwest Texas College, 207 Wildcat Drive, is accepting letters until the end of Christmas from kids for Santa. Sandra Colombo, pathway success coach at the
college, said Send Your Letter to Santa is part of the Christmas at the College, which was held on Dec. 3.
Parents and families are able to drop off their letters in the campus’ mailbox, which is decorated in red, green and white wrapping paper.
Colombo said the college does this event to bring “holiday spirit” to children in the community, adding that their campus is the only Southwest Texas campus to “take letters written for Santa.”
Photos with Santa & The Grinch – People can take pictures with Santa and the Dr. Seuss’ famous character, the Grinch, 
Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at 100 Center Drive. The location is a business complex housing three firms: Money Concepts Wealth Management & Financial Planning; Liberty Tax, and Money Link Financial Services Inc.
Mario Rodriguez, marketing director for the three firms, said the firm’s marketing department will send pictures through email to the parents or guardians of the kids who attend.
