T-L File Photo In this photo taken last year during the Pictures with Santa event, Santa is shown sitting behind a plexiglass safety divider. COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place this year as well, including Santa donning a face shield and children will sit on a bench next to Santa for photos.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Santa Claus is making his way to town and returning to the Ohio Valley Mall for its annual Pictures with Santa.

The event was set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Boscov’s court. Candi Noble-Greathouse, marketing director of the mall, said some COVID-19 precautions will again be in place. Santa will don a plastic face shield, though it will be removed for photos, and children will be positioned on a bench next to Santa instead of on his lap, similar to last year.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., children who get their photos taken with Santa will receive hot chocolate and cookies. There will also be activities, games, crafts and entertainment available during that time. This year’s event is sponsored by Trinity Health System.

Until early December, Santa’s hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Those times will be extended to 8 p.m. beginning Dec. 6. The event continues through Dec. 24.

The mall is also preparing for Black Friday shopping, set to begin Friday, Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Noble-Greathouse said mall officials are anticipating a big turnout of shoppers this year.

“We’re hoping. We have been busy every weekend. People are doing their shopping and the stores are announcing their Black Friday deals, so people are getting their lists together and their must-haves,” she said.

Typically lines begin to form outside the mall entrances in the early hours Black Friday before it’s set to open, she said, usually between 3 and 4 a.m. The mall will open its doors at 6 a.m. Friday. The first 250 shoppers, age 18 or older, in line outside the main entrance will receive a “swag bag” filled with goodies and gift cards.

“The shopping bag will have some coupons, Black Friday specials, and a few of them will have surprise gift cards in them,” she said. “There will also be holiday items that we’ve gotten from our stores like Ulta Beauty, Bath and Body Works, Marshalls and Connie’s Creative Collective.”

The first 200 bags will also include a chocolate bar, where shoppers could win coupons ranging from $10 up to a grand prize of $500.

Additionally, the stores inside the mall will be having their own promotions.

“The stores inside will have their own lines as well, a lot of them have limited supply of some of their doorbusters,” she said.

Noble-Greathouse said officials are looking forward to a safe and successful holiday shopping day.

“Stores will still be practicing some social distancing, so we hope everyone will be compliant with that and that will help us have a great, great weekend,” she added.