RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Santa’s evil little helper “Krampus” will be terrorizing small children again tonight in Richmond.

The man-beast has been a fixture at the Austria Vancouver Club for generations.

“One of our members dresses up in a costume and he comes out and scares the bejesus out of the kids,” explains Brenda Nowak, the club’s social director.

“He’s got chains, he’s got switch brooms, he’s got bells to make a lot of noise,” she adds.

Nowak says the annual visit is a well-known holiday tradition in Central Europe. “As Saint Nicholas would go around and reward the good kids, Krampus would deal with the bad kids. He usually had a pack on his back and would put the kids in his pack and take them away!”

She admits not every child is afraid of “Krampus.” Some even chase him and tug at his costume.

Doors at the “Austria Vancouver Club” open at 6 p.m.; the beast himself is expected to show up between 7:30 and 8 p.m.