Santa, Mrs. Claus arrive in Boothbay
Fire Chief Dick Spofford helps Santa and Mrs. Claus to their seats. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Joseph Hersom, left, Melissa Mackusick, right, and Carson Cook, front center, arrive early and enjoy hot chocolate while waiting to meet Santa. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
First in line are Megan and Isabel Timz who came up from Portland to spend the night with Megan’s sister Liz Hallinan and her daughter Kate. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
David Clifford, left, and Mike Alley serve up treats while guests wait for the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
As the fire truck travels toward and through the roundabout, kids cheer as they catch a glimpse of the big guy waving to them. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in style aboard one of Boothbay’s fire trucks. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Kate Hallinan of Boothbay is one of the first to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Carson Cook asked Santa to bring him a Transformer. The request sparked a debate with Santa about whose favorite character was best. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Violet Baldwin of Boothbay brought a handwritten note for Santa. She got a little shy when he wanted her to also tell him what she wanted for Christmas this year. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Fire Chief Dick Spofford helps Santa and Mrs. Claus to their seats. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Joseph Hersom, left, Melissa Mackusick, right, and Carson Cook, front center, arrive early and enjoy hot chocolate while waiting to meet Santa. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
First in line are Megan and Isabel Timz who came up from Portland to spend the night with Megan’s sister Liz Hallinan and her daughter Kate. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
David Clifford, left, and Mike Alley serve up treats while guests wait for the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
As the fire truck travels toward and through the roundabout, kids cheer as they catch a glimpse of the big guy waving to them. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in style aboard one of Boothbay’s fire trucks. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Kate Hallinan of Boothbay is one of the first to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Carson Cook asked Santa to bring him a Transformer. The request sparked a debate with Santa about whose favorite character was best. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
Violet Baldwin of Boothbay brought a handwritten note for Santa. She got a little shy when he wanted her to also tell him what she wanted for Christmas this year. MARGARET HOFFMAN/Boothbay Register
On Saturday night, Nov. 24, Boothbay Fire Department and Bayview Lodge hosted their annual welcome party for Santa and Mrs. Claus on the Boothbay Common. Before the pair arrived, guests gathered and enjoyed free hot chocolate and cookies while a line formed and grew nearly 100 people long.
All ages came from near and far, in groups of two to 10 or more. Some were bundled up in heavy parkas and ski pants while others sported only sweaters and jeans.
At just seconds before 6 p.m., the sirens could be heard approaching. Onlookers peered north to spot the fire truck just past the glittering lights at Boothbay Harbor Country Club. As the truck travelled toward and through the roundabout, kids cheered as they caught a glimpse of the big guy waving to them.
Once the truck arrived, Fire Chief Dick Spofford helped Santa and Mrs. Claus to the gazebo where family after family waited for their turn to take pictures and share a special moment with the famous pair.
The gift requests ran from robots to dollhouse mansions. One young man even asked Santa for a Fitbit. After a bit of a chuckle, Santa admitted to Mrs. Claus, sometimes he puts his Fitbit on one of the reindeer to get his steps in for the day.
Eleanor Erwin asked for Patriots tickets under her tree. Santa said he’d do his best but that she should know Pats tickets are expensive and hard to come by, even for Santa.
Nearly a dozen volunteers from Boothbay Fire Department and Bayview Lodge make this special event a reality for families each holiday season.
Event Date
Address
Boothbay, ME
United States
