UPDATE:

COLUMBUS - Columbus Community Hospital hosted its second annual Oh Deer, The Holidays Are Here event Thursday.

It included performances from the Columbus High School band and kids had the chance to take pictures with Santa and his reindeer.  Animals from the Horn T Zoo were also there.

“It’s fun," Kristin Bargmann said.  "Kids love petting the animals and there’s live reindeer outside.  It’s a great mix of seeing Santa and having the animals.”

CCH said events like this are perfect for helping kids create happy memories.

"This is another one of those events that we’re actually hoping kids will come in here wide-eyed, just take in everything, get a chance to talk with the actual Santa Clause and see his actual reindeer," marketing coordinator Kristin Dahl said.  "We really want to create an event that they’re going to remember for years to come.”

She said CCH began hosting the event to create an atmosphere for people to associate the hospital with happy memories.

“When you come to the hospital, you think of when you’re sick and really not feeling well," Dahl said.  "So the original idea was to create a positive environment for people to come out and associate our hospital with."

Whether or not it's having the desired effect, parents are happy to that the event happens.

“It’s just a great event to take advantage of a free place to come out and enjoy some music from the public school and just let your kids be able to socialize a little and be able to see Santa, if they haven’t,” Clarkson resident Serena Siebrandt said.

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COLUMBUS - For those in Columbus who are looking for some fun Thursday night, there's good news.

Columbus Community Hospital is sharing some early Christmas cheer by hosting their annual Oh Deer, The Holidays Are Here event.

It starts at 4 p.m. at Ag Park.

It will include performances from the Columbus High School band and New World Singers and kids will get to take pictures with Santa and his reindeer.  Animals from the Horn T Zoo will also be there.

CCH encourages folks to come out and help create memories for their kids.

"This is another one of those events that we’re actually hoping kids will come in here wide-eyed, just take in everything, get a chance to talk with the actual Santa Clause and see his actual reindeer," marketing coordinator Kristin Dahl said.  "We really want to create an event that they’re going to remember for years to come.”

Every child who attends will get a free cookie and ornament.

Again, it starts at 4 p.m. at Ag Park in Columbus.

News Channel Nebraska will be there to cover it.