KINGSTON — Seventeen days before Christmas and all through the streets Kingstonites were a stirrin’ and eager to meet — guess who?
Santa Claus, the jolly old elf, made several appearances at the Kingston Country Christmas celebration held Saturday. If you didn’t catch him posing for pictures and taking down wishes at the Kingston Community Center, then you might have seen him atop a red fire engine as he arrived to light the tree at the marina. He could also be seen later at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club greeting the boaters and enjoying some homemade chili.
“It was really nice to have everyone working on it,” said Karen Ross for the Kingston Revitalization Association. The association sponsored the Country Christmas event that solely on relied on volunteers to bring the community into the giving season.
“I was pleased, considering what the weather was supposed to be,” she said about the event attendance.
The weather outside was less than a winter wonderland with blustery winds that almost thwarted the revival of the yacht club’s lighted boat parade into Appletree Cove. But people could escape the wind inside the cozy community center where Santa and Mrs. Claus sat center stage.
Kids climbed on Santa’s knee, whispered their “must haves” and received a candy cane as Santa’s acceptance of the request. Tots also got their picture taken to take home by members of the Kiwanis Club.
Kingston Christian Church carolers entertained shoppers downtown and stopped in at the community center to have their picture snapped as well.
The clouds darkened as daylight disappeared, the Hometown Band played as the tree lighting neared.
Despite the cold whipping winds and occasional shower the fire engine arrived within the six o’clock hour.
And what to our wondering eyes should appear, but St. Nick, his elves and fire fighting gear.
“There’s Santa,” yelled out one child and a mob ran over to greet him and get candy canes in return. The tree at the marina lit up the night sky. Port of Kingston employees strung the colored lights on the tree and handcrafted the new star on top.
The tree’s brilliance could be seen from the guest dock at the Kingston Marina where eight vessels would soon file out into Appletree Cove. The lighted convoy of Christmas cheer rocked and rolled (literally and figuratively) over the waves in a lighted display that had not been done in almost four years.
Following the boat parade revelers enjoyed the warmth of the yacht club and warmed their bellies with chili. Again, Santa greeted the windblown and well chilled visitors.
WIth the wave of his hand Santa vanished from sight, for his job was done on this pre-Christmas night.
