Santa Claus Is Coming To Park Slope

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — You better watch out, Park Slope. Santa Claus is coming to the neighborhood.

Kris Kringle will cruise down Fifth Avenue in a pink, '57 Cadillac convertible before stopping for pictures and visits with kids and neighbors for a few hours.

St. Nick is being hosted by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, which supports small businesses along the neighborhood's major corridor.

"It’s a tradition now that dates back to the beginning of the BID," Mark Caserta, the Fifth Avenue BID's executive director, told Patch. "The idea is to bring Santa Claus, who is quite busy this time of year and seems to like Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue, here to offer free visits with the neighborhood kids."

Santa will hop in the car around 2 p.m. and cruise through the area, from Dean Street down to 18th Avenue, "giving out candy canes, and then certainly picking locations on the avenue where he can stay for a little while, stay warm and write down some wishes."

At 3 p.m., he'll set up at Kos Kaffe, near Garfield Place, where kids can visit with him and tell him what they want for Christmas.

"It’s a great opportunity to get a great picture of Santa Claus for free without standing in a long line at Macy's or some of the other popular spots," Caserta said.

"And it's another opportunity to explore small businesses that you aren’t familiar with, hang out, have some treats, have some hot chocolate and meet your neighbors.

Santa will be at Kos Kaffe from 3 to 5 p.m.

And if you miss him, the BID has a couple of other opportunities to meet him:

• Sunday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Old Stone House Fundraiser
• Saturday, Dec. 16, 3 to 5 p.m., Sidecar, free
• Saturday, Dec. 23, 4 to 5 p.m., Du Jour Bakery, free

Photo courtesy Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District