It felt like forever to some who were staked out at Island Wharf, eyes glued to the horizon scanning the waters for the sign of a moving vessel – and hopefully a vessel that looked as though it might be arriving from the North Pole to deliver Santa Claus to the Marion Holiday Stroll on December 14 like it does every year.
It was approaching 3:15 pm and the crowd had grown into the hundreds. Ideal locations for spotting an approaching Santa grew scarce, but free cookies and popcorn kept the multitudes at bay.
“Where’s Santa? Where is he?” Child after child asked the very same question, demanding an answer from their concerned parents eyeballing their watches that now read 3:18 pm.
“He’s coming, honey. He’s on his way.”
Excitement was mounting, anticipating the moment that finally arrived when someone called out, “There he is!”
Eyes fixed on the harbor and cameras ready, the moment the little red and white boat came into view sparked a frenzy of holiday cheer. The faces of children lit up like Christmas trees.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!” exclaimed Santa above the sound of the chugging motor.
What a sight to see, Santa Claus in his red suit and white beard blowing in the sea breeze as a festively festooned ferry pulled up along the dock and delivered Santa to his adoring fans.
Old Saint Nick disembarked the little board with flair, ascended the ramp with finesse, and then poof—he disappeared into the crowd.
Beholding the unfolding Christmas scene, it looked like a page torn out of the Santa Claus version of a Where’s Waldo book with all the Santa hats that peppered the mass of merry Marionites, concealing the exact location of the one and only Kris Kringle.
Santa eventually made it to his Clydesdale horse-drawn carriage that was there waiting for him and, like a true celebrity, trotted through the tiny streets of the center of Marion, waving to the kiddies and giving carriage rides to some of the lucky ones.
There were other celebrity sightings, including the Grinch and the Nutcracker, and revelers enjoyed performances by The Showstoppers and the Sippican School marching band before strolling to the Town House for the park lighting after dark.
The center of Marion during the holidays – quaint as a Christmas card.
By Jean Perry
