Santa Arrives at Rosedale

Santa Claus arrived Friday at Rosedale Center in Roseville, making it one of his earliest entries to the Twin Cities for holiday season 2012.

Firefighters from Roseville Fire Department  escorted Santa via a bright shiny red fire truck to the mall.

Rosedale officials said Santa's hours (from Nov. 9 through Dec. 14) will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to  6 p.m. Sundays. On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Santa will be at the mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

However, Santa will take an hour break from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m  Mondays through Saturdays and from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sundays. 

Santa's arrival at Rosedale comes two weeks before Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional start to the holiday season. However, he has shown up even earlier in some places. For example, Santa arrived on Friday, Nov. 2 at the Maplewood Mall.