Santa Clark with a group of children during a past walk through downtown Nanaimo for the annual fly-in. (Submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

annual fly-in

Santa ‘Clark’ marking 16th year of Christmas memories for Nanaimo children

Dec 5, 2025 | 6:03 AM

NANAIMO — Before his big trip around the world later this month, Santa is set to make his annual stop in the Harbour City.

The annual Harbour Air Fly-In happens Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Nanaimo waterfront, with Santa sharing a seaplane ride with a number of children registered through the Make-A-Wish foundation, before landing and taking a stroll through downtown.

Speaking with NanaimoNewsNOW prior to the flight, Santa ‘Clark’ said it’s one of the biggest highlights of his year.

“They take a ride with Santa, we fly around for about half an hour, and then we land in the harbour, and there’s usually 100 plus families waiting for us, cheering us on when we land.”

From the seaplane terminal and its 10:30 a.m. arrival, Santa and the kids will make their way to his holiday workshop at 78 Wharf St., where he’ll set up residency for around a week.

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Visits with Santa will be available on most days through to Dec. 14, with a full schedule available here.

Santa ‘Clark’ said Tuesday, Dec. 9, is slated to be a “quiet night”, with lower music and lights for those with sensory challenges.

Thursday, Dec. 11, is “pet night”.

“Kids got weird pets these days, so I get everything from rats to lizards to snakes to spiders, even in the last couple of years with the increase in homesteaders, now I get goats and chickens and rabbits and everything from them and it just makes for a fun night.”

Now in his 16th year of making the fly-in visit, Santa ‘Clark’ said he’s had the opportunity to watch families grow, even making a four-legged addition to his own family as a result of his annual visit.

“Seven years ago, a family had been coming in for many years, all of a sudden, their dog had a litter, and they felt that Santa should have a puppy. It was one of those things in the back of my head I’m going, ‘I don’t need a dog, I don’t need a dog’, but Santa can’t say no, and it’s turned out to be the greatest dog.”

Should the weather not cooperate for a safe flight around the area, the plane will taxi in the Nanaimo Harbour for its allotted time before docking.

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