In a normal year, Santa John Symonds is booked by mid-May for the rest of the year.
His usual holiday schedule of events begins in early November with the Central Virginia Chili Cookoff in Louisa. In mid-November, he strolls Caroline and William streets as part of the Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street Holiday Open House weekend, and in late November, he attends the downtown tree lighting in Hurkamp Park.
In early December, heâs the closing attraction at the Fredericksburg Parade, and his season continues through the month with numerous breakfast-with-Santa events and more strolls through downtown streets.
But this year, his schedule stayed open through the summer and into September.