Santa Claus is Coming to Town… By Phone, That Is, for Local Children

Washington County residents with young children have a unique opportunity this holiday season to connect directly with the North Pole. The Washington County Parks and Recreation Department is offering a special program that will allow children between the ages of 3 and 6 to receive a personalized phone call from Santa Claus or one of his elves. This festive event aims to bring holiday magic directly into homes, providing a memorable experience for eligible youngsters.

The special phone calls are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This program is being offered entirely free of charge to families in Washington County. To participate, parents or guardians must complete a registration form and submit it to the Recreation Department. The deadline for submitting these forms is Friday, December 5, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Families can submit their completed forms through mail or email. Those choosing to mail their applications should send them to the Washington County Recreation Department, located at 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742. Alternatively, forms can be submitted electronically to recsupport@washco-md.net. A link to an online form is also available for convenience.

It is important for participants to be aware of a few key details. Only three attempts will be made to reach each child, and no voicemails will be left. The calls will originate from a phone number within the 240-313-28XX series, so parents and guardians should ensure their phones are accessible and that children are available during the designated call window. While the conversations are intended to be special and engaging, no gifts will be distributed as part of this program.

Each registration form should include information for only one child to ensure that Santa and his helpers have the necessary details for a personalized experience. The information provided will be used solely by the Recreation Department and Santa’s North Pole team for the purpose of this program and will not be shared externally for privacy and safety reasons. For any inquiries regarding the program, interested individuals can contact the Washington County Recreation Department at 240-313-2805 or via email at recsupport@washco-md.net. This initiative offers a delightful way to add an extra layer of holiday cheer for young children in the community.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Parks and Recreation

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