Photo Provided Santa Clause sits as children eagerly wait to sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Santa Claus is coming to town to help the Ohio Valley Mall kick off the holiday shopping season.

Santa is scheduled to arrive at 1):30 a.m. Saturday. Jason Lindsey, better known as Mr. Science, will conduct several science experiments with the man in red assisting him before taking his throne at Boscov’s Court at 11 a.m. to hear what gifts the children of the Ohio Valley eagerly await to open on Christmas day.

Once the big man arrives, the first 100 children in line to see him will be treated to free cookies and cocoa. In addition, all children will also be treated to activities such as games, face painting and balloon art by Jingles the Clown.

Ohio Valley Mall Marketing Director Candi Noble-Greathouse said that Micheal’s Arts and Crafts, Claire’s and Books-A-Million stores will all be hosting activities and crafts for kids who will be in attendance for Santa’s arrival.

After Santa’s arrival, the Children’s Place will be hosting a Holiday Fashion Show starting at 1 p.m. near the mall’s Center Court. The Children’s Place will have local children modeling the store’s holiday fashions.

“Santa has a little different hours for the first couple weeks, but during the weekends he’ll have his normal hours,” Noble-Greathouse said.

From Nov. 16-29 Santa’s hours will be noon until 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Starting Dec. 2-23 hours will be 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon until 6 p.m. Sunday. On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Santa will be at the mall from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Noble-Greathouse said that starting Nov. 18, the mall will go into four consecutive Mondays of hosting Pet Photos with Santa. She added that the pet photos have always been well attended and she expects that this year will be no different. On Nov. 18 and 25, Santa will be taking pictures with everyone’s favorite furry friends from 5-7 p.m. On Dec. 2 and 9, he will be taking pictures with pets from 6-8 p.m.

Another upcoming holiday event that the mall will be hosting is its Pajama Party with Santa on Nov. 26, Dec. 6 and Dec. 11. The parties take place from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Boscov’s Court.

Noble-Greathouse said reservations are encouraged because the pajama parties tend to be well attended. To reserve a spot for a pajama party, she suggests sending an email to marketingdirector@ohiovalleymall.net or calling her at 740-695-4526, ext. 102.

“Everything that everybody’s looking for for the holidays is starting this week,” Noble-Greathouse said. “Saturday is going to be a full day of activities. People have been waiting a year to see Santa, so they got lots of things on their list to talk to him about.”