Winter Wonderland returns to Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle for 2022 on December 3

Santa Claus is coming to town...this Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM, for the annual Winter Wonderland festival at the corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. He will make his appearance at the event from 2:00 - 4:00. 

Come for Santa, but stay for the live music performances by choral groups from the Academy of the Holy Cross, Chevy Chase Elementary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Stone Ridge School, Walter Johnson High School, and Walt Whitman High School. There will be free craft activities from Imagination Stage and Game Genius, as well as face painting and ice sculpture carving.

Food and beverages will be sold by local Bethesda restaurants. Donations will be accepted by Sgt. Jack Hettchen Jr., Detachment (1428) Marine Corps League for Toys for Tots. For more information on Winter Wonderland contact the Bethesda Urban Partnership at 301/215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.

GameStop opens in new location, Santa Claus to arrive Nov. 12 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

GameStop has opened in its new location at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is now in the Old Navy wing near Yogi Castle, Icing and Aroma Espresso Bar.

In other mall news, Smart Toys will reopen this Saturday, November 12, and Santa Claus will make his first appearance of the 2016 holiday season a that day, as well. Saint Nick will be on his throne from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM every day through Christmas Eve, except he will call it quits at 6:00 PM on Sundays.

ELVIS PRESLEY OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN (VIDEO)

Just 3 days left in the 12 Days of Christmas, and we're celebrating with another Christmas classic by The King, Elvis Presley: the second official Elvis singing Christmas ornament of 2012 is not only a highly-detailed guitar, but also plays "Santa Claus is Back in Town."

Come back each day for a new video through January 6!

BETHESDA MOM SPOOKED BY SANTA CLAUS

Emergency vehicle sirens have been echoing throughout west Bethesda over the last two evenings. 

But it was no emergency - it was Santa Claus.

Each December, Santa makes his way through every street of that part of Bethesda, with the help of the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department.  Having grown up there, I can tell you that this tradition is much beloved by the community. The excitement of Santa Claus passing by rivaled the Christmas tree purchase for biggest holiday event of the month (unless Santa's other appearances at Montgomery Mall count). 

But - understandably - new arrivals may be unaware of St. Nick's annual journey, which takes a while to accomplish.

So it was that one resident took to a local "Mommy Blog" to seek answers:

"We live in the Sumner neighborhood between Mass Ave and Sangamore," wrote "Anonymous" at 7:21 PM last night.

"For the better part of the past half hour there has been the sound of emergency vehicle sirens (police?) going through the neighborhood. Does anyone know what occurred?"

Residents responded to reassure the poster that it was just Santa Claus.

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: TASTYKAKE SANTA SNACKS REVIEW (VIDEO)

On today's episode, I review Tastykake Santa Snacks!

Tune in each day for a new episode, as we count down to Christmas 2012 on the Robert Dyer Channel

WINTER WONDERLAND BETHESDA, SANTA CLAUS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA THIS WEEKEND

It will officially be December on Saturday, and that means Christmas and holiday events will be happening all around.

Saturday starts with pet photos with Santa at Bethesda Row from 2-4 PM.  That's right, pet photos. For $10, your pet can tell Santa what he or she wants for Christmas. The proceeds go to a familiar Bethesda Row charity, Canines for Veterans.  CFV rescues, trains and places service dogs with wounded veterans, who need their skills and companionship.

Santa will be back Sunday during the same hours, again on Bethesda Lane.

Saturday night at 8:00, enjoy a Christmas choral concert at Imagination Stage (4908 Auburn Avenue), $10 adult tickets, $5 for children under 12.  The concert is being produced by Bethesda Urban Partnership.

Bethesda UP is also behind the biggest event of the weekend: the arrival of Santa Claus himself in downtown Bethesda!

Hey, wait a minute - Santa Claus will be at Veterans Park from 2-4 PM.  That just happens to be the same time that Santa Claus will be posing for dog photos across town at Bethesda Row!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an impostor on our hands!  Will the real St. Nicholas please stand up?  This is an outrage! An investigation is in order!  This could require a beard-pulling test to verify the veritable Kris Kringle.

Real or not, this Santa Claus will be just one part of the 1-4 PM show at Veterans Park (Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues) Sunday.  You can also witness live ice sculpting (as opposed to pre-recorded ice sculpting?), and concerts by Westbrook ES, Our Lady of Lourdes, Norwood, Garrett Park ES and Seneca Valley HS students.

As always, it might be advisable to fortify yourself with a hot chocolate or holiday coffee drink at Dunkin' Donuts on Bethesda Avenue.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS EXTRAVAGANZA AT SHOPPES OF BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Maybe it's the effect of having a Christmas tree lot on your street, but the Shoppes of Bethesda shopping center has gone all out for the holidays this year.

Even the "secret staircase" between Elm Street and Hampden Lane is filled with Christmas cheer.

Would you believe there's a Nutcracker soldier guarding the premises?  And judging from those red cheeks, he's been having one too many drinks at Ri-Ra in the process! It's hard to find good help these days.