Mon, 12/02/2019 - 2:00pm

KEVIN BURNHAM

Santa Claus arrives at Southport General Store, ringing a bell and singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on Sunday, Dec. 1 for the Southport Lights Up celebration. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Southport Central School students sing Christmas carols for the crowd gathered for the annual celebration. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Bruce Harris holds daughter Agatha while they wait for the arrival of Santa Claus. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jessie Ullo and others greet Santa Claus as he hands out gifts to the children. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The annual Christmas lighting at Southport Central School was held during Southport Lights Up on Dec. 1. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Residents of Southport sing carols with the students. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Southport Island Association President Medea Harris welcomes those gathered for the celebration. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Santa Claus arrives riding his three-wheel motorcycle. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Mabel Kaler, left, and Kayla Watts wait to greet Santa Claus. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Santa Claus wishes everyone “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” before his departure. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Enjoying cookies and more in Southport General Store following the event. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Southport Central School students sing Christmas carols for the crowd gathered for the annual celebration. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Bruce Harris holds daughter Agatha while they wait for the arrival of Santa Claus. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jessie Ullo and others greet Santa Claus as he hands out gifts to the children. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The annual Christmas lighting at Southport Central School was held during Southport Lights Up on Dec. 1. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Residents of Southport sing carols with the students. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Southport Island Association President Medea Harris welcomes those gathered for the celebration. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Santa Claus arrives riding his three-wheel motorcycle. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Mabel Kaler, left, and Kayla Watts wait to greet Santa Claus. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Santa Claus wishes everyone “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” before his departure. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Enjoying cookies and more in Southport General Store following the event. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The weather was not frightful and the warmth of the Southport community, along with the arrival of Santa Claus, put the 50-plus attendees in good cheer as the annual Southport Lights Up event, held outside and inside Southport General Store on Sunday, Dec. 1, went off without a hitch.

Southport Island Association sponsored the event. The organization’s president, Medea Harris, welcomed everyone before the island’s schoolchildren sang a half dozen Christmas carols and hymns. Those gathered were also urged to sing along.

Before Santa Claus arrived on his three-wheel motorcycle, the display of Christmas lights set up across the road on the school grounds was turned on, as oohs and aahs erupted from the crowd.

Jolly old Santa walked to the gathering after parking his motorcycle and began ringing a bell and singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” He then sat down in a chair and children started a line to greet him. After asking each child his or her name, Santa gave each child a bag of goodies.

Before riding out of sight, Santa walked through the crowd wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas.”

The store staff then generously offered hot drinks, pizza slices and cookies to all.