Sunshine and balmy temperatures made a perfect day for a parade in the Village of Greenport today and kids of all ages lined Front Street to get a glimpse of the guest of honor: Santa Claus himself rode into town on the Greenport Fire Department’s vintage 1933 fire truck.
The parade, complete with the Greenport school NJRPTC and marching band, seasonal costumed characters, donkeys, horses and fire apparatus, wended its way to the Third Street firehouse. There, more than 150 kids lined up for a chance to see Santa and whisper their Christmas wishes.
Hover boards are much in demand, as are tablets and iPhones — though some kids were old school, asking for dolls and legos. A few simply said “presents” when Santa asked what they wanted for Christmas. The most unusual request today? An 8-year-old girl asked Santa for a zip line.
“I’ll try my best, but I can’t make any promises,” the jolly elf responded, concluding each conversation with a hearty “ho-ho-ho!”
The Greenport Fire Department provides wrapped presents and a fruit/candy goody bag for each child. It had about 200 gifts and goody bags ready today, said ex-captain Jennifer Grilli, who bought the presents and wrapped them all with the help of her daughter, Maegan Ramnarine. The fire department solicits donations from the community to fund the giveaways, she said.
Santa’s “elves” Chatty Allen and Colleen Hughes handed out gifts, while volunteer firefighter Frank Musto distributed goody bags.
“This is a really nice day,” said Greenport Mayor George Hubbard, who was on hand for the event and stood by in the meeting room of the firehouse to watch the children — including his own grandsons — visit with santa. “It’s always a lot of fun.”
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti