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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Keiran Fleming

'Magical' Glasgow Santa's grotto sharing Christmas love with families and it's absolutely free

A Santa's grotto in Possilpark has been bringing joy to the community this weekend.

Comfort Zone has set up its free winter wonderland to help more than 200 kids meet St Nick this festive season.

Following the success of last year's event, Linda Dempster, decided to bring the Christmas cheer again.

READ MORE: Glasgow temperature to hit 13C tomorrow after week of snow and ice

Mum-of-two Lisa Bogan brought her daughter's Mya and Layla along to see the grotto. She told Glasgow Live: "It's so welcoming for the kids and it's magical.

"The vibe is lovely. Usually we'd go see Santa in the town and stuff but it's too expensive just now.

"We came here and it was personalised, they got to sit and have a proper chat with him."

This year has been tough with for many families, with bills and the price of necessities skyrocketing.

The Comfort Zone has given parents a cost effective alternative and ensured that each child will have a present to open this Christmas.

The 33-year-old mum said: "It takes so much pressure off you.

"You don't need to to book off days and see Santa and go have these experiences.

"I try and do one experience with them every year, but this year it was a bit hard money wise. We were invited here and they were excited for it.

"When we came in it was even more magical."

Peter also took his two children to meet Santa and he believes grottos like the one in Possilpark are few and far between.

He said: "This is great for the community.

"Obviously everything that everybody has been through over the last couple of years with covid and things like that.

"My son has missed out on quite a lot of things like this. It is great to have the opportunity to come here and see Santa.

"Nowadays you don't get things like this. When I was a kid you would go out to see Santa, but it's not about as much."

There were a variety of gifts available for children including Barbies, earphones and selection boxes.

Seeing their kids leave with a smile on their face and present under their arm warms the heart of every parent.

The dad said: "It's absolutely amazing.

"They've been buzzing to come here all morning. It feels really good, I'm just so happy for the kids.

"It's great that something like this is here."

The creation of the grotto may be Linda's brainchild, but it has now become a family affair with her two sons and daughter chipping in to ensure there are enough gifts under the tree for each child.

The 60-year-old, who is set for a life-changing operation on Wednesday, hopes that the grotto can be expanded in the future and help more kids in more communities

She said: "I want to see more children through the door.

"It will always be here but I would like to expand a bit more because they are all needing it.

"Whether that be Milton, Maryhill, Springburn ,all of them because there a few kids we had to turn away because there were too many.

"I feel speechless and overjoyed when I see them smile.

"I love it."

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