GREENWOOD, Ind. — There is a last-minute rush to get letters and requests to Santa Claus before Christmas.
Some children got to tell Santa their wishes face-to-face at the Greenwood Park Mall.
Harmony McCart surprised her granddaughter, Ariella.
"When I walked in, I said, 'We are going to go see Santa Claus! Surprise!'" she said.
Days before Christmas, 7-year-old Ariella got the chance to tell Santa what was on her wish list.
"I want small toys and small Barbie and a big toy," she said.
Some were too young to tell Santa what they want, but it's all about the Christmas experience.
"It's just exciting for them to get excited when Santa Claus comes and make sure you bake the cookies and all that, I just love it," said Keena Allison, who went with her 1-year-old granddaughter. "I thank God that I'm here to see it and share it with her."
Tradition is front of mind for many families, too.
"It's a thing that we always do, so we were going to come one day or another," said 13-year-old Thomas Allen.
He said he asked Santa for Pokemon cards. His mother, Jennifer Allen, was just glad to share the experience with him.
"We bake cookies and cupcakes and we go see Santa," she said. "The tradition is not necessarily about what you do, but it's about spending the time with each other."
But most important?
"Enjoy every second. It goes by fast," Jennifer Allen said.
Families said what's most important is to enjoy the holiday season.