Transwest Air gave Santa’s reindeer a break this weekend during their 18th Annual Santa Claus Run.

Santa got to ride in style on a Transwest Beech 1900 to visit approximately 800 children in Fond-du-Lac, Black Lake, Stony Rapids and Wollaston Lake. The event took place at each community’s school.

Some of the most popular present requests this year are L.O.L. Dolls, video games, Barbie’s and Legos.

Santa also had some different gift requests consisting of slime, a jar of pickles and watermelon.

The event coordinator, Patty Hughes who is the Business Development Officer at Transwest Air starts preparing for the Santa Run in September.

With a small budget, she purchases 1100 gifts that motivates fitness, creativity and education. Everyone also received candy canes and a mandarin orange.

Some of the gifts found in Santa’s bag this year were hockey sticks, footballs, colouring sets, sleds, Play-Doh and YoYos.

Santa says that he loves interacting with all of the children, but really enjoys watching the parents’ reaction to their children when it is their turn to speak with him.

Teachers and parents even had a turn to snap a photo and to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

(Photo: Santa riding firs-class. By Katrina Cameron.)