Santa's Wonderland is open at Bass Pro in Council Bluffs and families lined up to take photos. For some, it's an annual tradition.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Thanksgiving is over and now it's time for Santa Claus visits. I'm Southwest Iowa neighborhood reporter Katrina Markel in Council Bluffs.
"I think I'm going to ask for a shirt that says my sisters are the best."
Like a lot of kids at Bass Pro on Friday, seven-year-old Heidi participated in a time-honored tradition: Christmas pictures with Santa.
She and cousin Adalyn put thought into their outfits.
Heidi: "And I thought it was good because it's green, it's comfortable and stuff."
Adalyn: "Usually me and my cousin are always matching, so I wanted to do something different, so I decided to do PJs."
And what do kids want from Santa this year?
Rory (AGE 10): "For girls most likely skincare and makeup and for boys probably more video games."
Katrina: "Okay, what do you want from Santa?"
Cort: "Legos"
Cameron: "A dirt bike and a helmet."
Mom of four kids: "They're getting older so they're wanting bigger, more expensive. So, we'll do less."
But even college kids aren't too big for some things: "I still like to think I'm a little kid so I still like having my stuffed animals"
Heidi: "This is Snowy."
Adalyn: "And this is S'mores and this is Pawsey.”
Bass Pro General Manager Matthew Spies says, now, the company spreads holiday deals over a longer timeframe, not just black Friday.
"It does allow us to have a little more flexibility in taking care of customers and our Outfitters ... Friday's still our biggest day of the year," he said.
I asked Santa for a pair of fingerless gloves for operating TV cameras in the cold.
Santa's Wonderland is open through Christmas Eve.
