Instead of toys, this year Santa Claus will bring students at Fountain Dining Hall a horse-drawn carriage and a holiday meal.

Fountain Dining Hall will host its annual Winter Holiday Dinner tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students will also be able to take pictures with Santa Claus, as well as ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

“It’s near the end of the semester and finals are coming up, so we decided to do something festive for the students,” Scott Curtner, Director of Fountain Dining Hall said. “There will be a lot of variety in the foods including foods we don’t normally serve.”

According to Curtner, this is one of the most expensive and time-consuming meals Fountain Dining Hall has put on this year, due to the variety of the selection.

Michael Altman, a freshman in electrical engineering, said he was looking forward to the redskin mashed potatoes with gravy.

“Supposedly this is going to be the best food that Fountain has had all year,” Altman said.

The horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered at the dining hall during the meal.

“The carriage is always decorated and it’s so gorgeous,” Melanie Newkirk, a Fountain Dining Hall employee, said. “I’ve heard its fun to ride it, but I haven’t had a chance to since I’m working.”

However, Newkirk said she does get to spend time with Santa Claus. She will be taking pictures of students with Santa.

“The student really seem to enjoy sitting on Santa’s lap and riding in the carriage,” Faye Smith, a Fountain Dining Hall employee, said. “I guess it’s because they don’t get to see these things often.”

According to Curtner, Fountain Dining Hall has been hosting the Winter Holiday Dinner for the last 10 years. It also hosts other special dinners, including The All Carolinas Meal in September, which features food grown in North and South Carolina, and the Thanksgiving Feast in November.

“We try to do special event meals throughout the year,” Curtner said. “So it’s natural to do a special meal for the winter holidays.”

Curtner said he hopes students appreciate the effort that goes into the meal.

“I really hope they walk away saying ‘Wow, that was an amazing dinner,'” he said.