Just call it a home makeover, Santa edition.
With Christmas five short weeks away, Santa will once again set up temporary quarters in Iola to hear requests from area children starting Dec. 3.
But as Iola Area Chamber of Commerce volunteers were pulling the house out of storage, Executive Director Robin Schallie noticed the home had started to show its age.
Lights were broken, as were several decorations, because of shifting, the structure’s front door no longer locked.
Helpers were busy Thursday, doing a few improvements to jolly old domicile, after it had been placed at its familiar spot on the southeast corner of Iola’s courthouse square.
The interior will sport new decorations, a new chair for St. Nick and a new tree.
New exterior lights and decorations also are a part of the improvements, with a plaque to recognize donors who helped make the project possible, Schallie said.
New locks also were installed.
“We just want to make it a little spiffier,” Schallie said.
Santa will make his first appearance of the Christmas season from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Because his reindeer are still in training for their global Christmas Eve trek, Santa will get a lift from the Iola Fire Department for his grand arrival.
He’ll return to Iola from 5 to 7 p.m. on both Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday, Dec. 8. His final appearance in the Santa House will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10.
Children wishing to write letters to Santa can drop off their correspondence at a small mailbox right outside Santa’s front door. The letters must include a valid email address so that Santa can respond.
Postal rates north of the Arctic Circle are outrageous this year, Schallie noted.
