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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Santa is ready for visitors at Spokane area malls

Throngs pack the foyer of Riverpark Square for the arrival of Santa Friday, Nov. 22, 2009. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
By Kimberly Lusk kimberlyl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5457

The big guy is ready for photo ops.

Using his North Pole magic, Santa Claus is taking up residence at area malls, with plans to stay right up until the big day. So, don those Christmas sweaters, grab your wish lists, and get ready to chat with Kris Kringle himself.

River Park Square: Santa arrives at 7 p.m. Friday to help light the Christmas tree, but the festivities start at 5 p.m. There to welcome him will be two reindeer (available for photos). There will also be hot cocoa, face painting and music. Santa will stay for photos until 9 p.m.

Then, he’ll take up residence in the mall’s atrium for the rest of the holiday season. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, with the start time moving to 10 a.m. Dec. 15-23, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 24. Paw and Claws will be 6-7 p.m. Dec. 10.

River Park Square is at 808 W. Main Ave. Info: (509) 363-0304 or http://riverparksquare.com/santaarrives.

NorthTown and Spokane Valley Malls: Santa is at NorthTown in the Sears court and Spokane Valley in the lower level J.C. Penney court.

Photo discounts are available by preordering packages online. Visit www.northtownmall.com or www.spokanevalleymall.com for details.

Hours are noon-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 14; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 15-23 (ending at 8 p.m. Dec. 17); and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 24. Pet photos are available 5-8 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 11. Holiday PJ Nights with Santa are 5-8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 8, and Ugly Sweater Night is 5-8 p.m. Dec. 1.

NorthTown Mall is at 4750 N. Division St.; call (509) 482-4800. Spokane Valley Mall is at 14700 E. Indiana Ave.; call (509) 926-3700.

Silver Lake Mall: Mr. Claus waits until the day after Thanksgiving to settle in at Silver Lake Mall. On Nov. 24, he’ll kick things off with a party at 10 a.m. Princesses will be there, too. Party tickets are $10. Then he’ll settle in for photos and chats.

Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. Santa will stay until 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9, 15-16, and 18-23. On Dec. 24, hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Pet nights are Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 and 11.

Silver Lake Mall is at 200 W. Hanley Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Info: (208) 762-2113 or www.silverlakemall.com.