Santa Claus is coming to Tri-Town. Whether you are looking to take the kids to visit Santa Claus or you are looking to play Santa yourself and participate in a local toy drive, there are a number of opportunities for you and your family to celebrate the season in your own neighborhood as early as this weekend.
During the holidays, we give and we receive. Your children might be a few of the lucky, good boys and girls that Santa will visit this year, and taking them to visit Santa to read him their Christmas lists is part of the tradition.
Then there are children who depend on toy drives for a present this year – a gift that shows them that somewhere, someone cares and wants him or her to find a reason to smile on Christmas morning. Won’t you play Santa for a child in need within the region?
There are several toy drives going on in Tri-Town, and it is easy to play Santa for another child somewhere out there who wants what all children want – a present on Christmas morning.
Simply pick up an extra toy, winter coat, or pair of sneakers while out shopping for your own loved ones and drop it off, unwrapped, at any of the following locations or during some of the events going on leading up to Christmas.
Would you and your family enjoy having pancakes with Santa? If so, the 3rd Annual Pancakes with Santa at the Sippican School in Marion is happening on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Breakfast is provided, compliments of the Marion Police Brotherhood. If you plan to play Santa, the brotherhood is collecting unwrapped toys for its “fill a cruiser” toy drive. Donated children’s gifts will go to the Justice Resources Institute for distribution to local non-profits that provide intensive foster care and adoption programs for children in the region.
The Marion Police has posted the wish lists of several children in the program, which can be viewed by visiting the Marion Police website at www.marionma.gov/police.
If you can’t make it to Marion, tell the kids to grab their Christmas lists and head over to St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett for the Annual Christmas Fair, also on Saturday. Santa arrives at 10:00 am.
Rochester residents on Saturday, December 6 need only stop by the Plumb Library during its Holiday Open House from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to visit the big guy. Santa arrives at 11:30 am.
The Mattapoisett Knights of Columbus is hosting a “Pancakes with Santa” affair on Sunday, December 7 from 8:00 to 11:00 am at the K of C in Mattapoisett on Route 6. Bring a gently used or new toy or winter coat for children in need. Tickets are $5.
You can join the Rochester selectmen at the Annual Tree Lighting ceremony at The Rochester Town Hall on Monday, December 8 at 7:00 pm. Santa will arrive in style, riding on a fire engine with lights flashing and sirens sounding, so make sure you come out to greet him.
Jumping to the next weekend, the 9th Annual Mattapoisett “Holiday in the Park” on Saturday, December 13 promises an exciting entrance by Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride into Shipyard Park at dusk on a fire engine in time for the tree lighting ceremony and, of course, free food! Local “Santas” can bring an unwrapped child’s gift or non-perishable food items to the big tent at Shipyard Park where members of the Mattapoisett Lions Club will be present to collect donations. The whole event is from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
On Sunday, December 14, Santa will arrive at Island Wharf to hopefully (details are still being finalized) enter the town on a horse-drawn carriage for the 20th Annual Marion Christmas Stroll on Front Street. The event is from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, but stick around to stroll down to the Marion Town House for the tree lighting at 6:15 pm.
Back in Rochester, join Santa for juice from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, December 20 at the Rochester Post Office.
The Mattapoisett Free Library will be collecting brand new children’s pajamas and books throughout the winter to help kids “cozy up” this holiday season. The library wants to “add a little joy to someone’s life” with the help of its library patrons. Simply purchase a new set of pajamas and accompany it with a new book for the child to read. The donations will benefit children being served by The Women’s Center of New Bedford.
We at The Wanderer wish all of our Tri-Town (and beyond) readers a Merry Christmas and warm and Happy Holidays! When you attend these events, be sure to smile for the camera and read The Wanderer. You might be in it!
By Jean Perry
