S

anta Claus is coming to town, right to the Clark County Public Library, this Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. until noon.

If you’re up and outside around dawn on Saturday and you see what appears to be a comet heading southwest and not only sparkling, but jingling, too, you’ll be right, that is a Comet and a Dasher and a Dancer and a Prancer, et al, heading for their landing site out at Harry Enoch’s place.While Santa comes to the library, the reindeer graze and listen to jazz.

So, bring the kids and their wishes and meet the Jolly Old Elf in the Venable Community Room in the youth department of the library. Santa tells me this is one of his favorite pre-Christmas stops because “everybody’s nice!” He is always charmed, inspired and enlightened by his conversations with Clark County kids.

Of course, there will be candy canes for all, and one of the library’s sterling Santa helpers will take a free picture of each child that visits with Santa.

And speaking of sterling Santa Helpers, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Library Director Julie Maruskin will be offering her second annual Merry Craftsmas all-day drop-in craft workshops in the library’s Rose Mary Codell Brooks Community Room.

Bring a lunch and stay all day to make all the projects, or come for just a few minutes and make just one. Materials and tools for all projects will be available all day, and library instructors will be on hand to help.

At Merry Craftsmas you can make:

— Sweet Tiny Sheep (25 minutes to learn it: about 15 minutes to make one after you’ve made the first one). Make a sheep from pipe cleaners and wooly yarn to liven up your manger scene, tree or wreath. Low-cost and highly addictive — we guarantee you’ll go home and make a flock of your own.

— Vintage Button Snowman Pin.Two big white buttons, two beady bright eyes and a festive felt coat and scarf mounted on a pinback make a jaunty holiday gift for someone special — especially yourself!

— Not-So-Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments. Festive felt, beads and seasonal trims all come together to make a tiny “ugly Christmas sweater” for your tree, right down to the tiny hanger.

— Starry Swedish Paper Wreath (15 minutes to learn it: 45-60 minutes to make one). Use any kind of paper — recycled funny papers, origami rice paper, maps, pages from old books. Make a big one to hang in a special window or on a wall, or make a little one to hang on the tree or put on a special package.

— Matchbook Notepads (10 minutes to learn it: 15 minutes to complete a set of three). The perfect gift for the compulsive listmaker on your list, recycle beautiful papers and greeting cards into sets of notepads perfect for sliding into a purse, pocket or glove compartment. Another paper-and-stapler project to produce in minutes: similar little notebooks are priced up to $5 at gift shops.

I can tell you that Santa peeked in at the Craftsmas workshops last year and he was delighted, not only by the crafts being made, but especially by the fun the participants were having.  About 40 people showed up last year and a glittery good time was had by all.

If you want to free-style craft and make an ornament you’ve designed, that’s fine too. It’s the holiday season. Have some fun!

So, this Saturday, between Santa in the youth department and the workshop in the Brooks Community Room, Winchester will be the Kentucky branch of the North Pole. That’s why the Clark County Public Library and all of its swell patrons are always on Santa’s nice list.