The Marietta City Council agreed Wednesday to consider voting on a plan to text visitors to help reduce the amount of time they’d have to wait to see Santa Claus at a planned holiday event at Glover Park.

This tourism grant plan amendment of $43,000 was proposed by Sterling Wharton of the Marietta Development Authority and may be decided by the council during its 7 p.m. Sept. 9 meeting at City Hall, 205 Lawrence St.

If approved, the park would be transformed into a wintry landscape from Nov. 20 or Nov. 27 until Jan. 3, and include an ice rink by Ice Guys, artificial snow and an object drop on New Year’s.

Wharton suggested the texting plan, “telling them Santa is ready to see you,” to reduce the wait of two to three hours to see Santa.

Greenery, LED-lighted archways and lights in all the trees would be combined with nostalgic brownish lights with an option for permanent lighting where the colors could be programmed to change with the season, for example, red, white and blue for the Fourth of July, Wharton added.

Wharton emphasized the plan would be “a collaborative effort” with MUST Ministries events at Christmas.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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