Jolly old Saint Nick has a busy weekend ahead of him with a number of back-to-back Tri-Town events where Santa (with some events accompanied by Mrs. Claus) will make appearances to spread the spirit of Christmas and listen well to what our Tri-Town kiddies want most this holiday season.
We don’t want you to have to search high and low for Santa, so here is a compilation of the Santa sightings on our Tri-Town radar so that no child has to miss out on the fun!
On Saturday, December 7, the Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club will be putting on one of its “Santa Matinees” of its holiday production, “Elf the Musical”.
The show begins at 12:30 pm and will conclude with a visit from Santa himself for a meet-and-greet with the kids. Parents, bring your iPhones because this will be the perfect photo opportunity for your kids’ annual holiday portrait with Santa.
Also on Saturday, the annual “Santa Run” 5k race will feature hundreds of ‘Santas’ running through the village streets of Mattapoisett, a sight you won’t want to miss! The “Youth Elves Run” fun run (for ages 13 and under) starts at 12:30 pm, and the Santa Run 5k (14 and older) starts at 1:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Wharf off Water Street.
The Santa Run has historically been held in Downtown New Bedford, but was relocated to Mattapoisett this year. Some of the proceeds of the race will be donated to the American Legion.
On Sunday, December 8, Santa’s first stop during his busiest day in the Tri-Town will be at the Rochester Senior Center on Dexter Lane for the annual Breakfast with Santa Claus sponsored by the Rochester Lions Club. The event is from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and a full breakfast menu will be offered, along with holiday crafts, games, and cookie decorating. The Lions suggest a $5 donation for photos with Santa.
Then it’s a mad dash over to Marion where Santa will arrive at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center on Mill Road for lunch at the Marion Police Brotherhood’s annual Pizza with Santa from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Police Brotherhood will be accepting new unwrapped toys for its “Fill a Cruiser” toy drive to provide gifts for area children in foster care and adoption services under the Justice Resources Institute.
At 2:00 pm is another Old Rochester Regional High School Drama Club “Santa Matinee” of its holiday production Elf the Musical! Come for the show, stay for the Santa photo op!
Then it’s back to Marion for one of our favorite events of the year: the Marion Holiday Stroll. Santa will appear from across yonder Sippican Harbor on his “water sleigh” at just about 3:00 pm and will arrive at the Marion Town Wharf off Front Street where hundreds eagerly awaiting his arrival twill greet him.
From there, Santa will board his horse-drawn carriage for a parade through the village and offer carriage rides throughout the afternoon. Front Street will be closed off to traffic and filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season with local businesses offering free hot drinks and food, and the Sippican School Band will provide the holiday tunes. Be sure to watch for Grinch sightings, too! The event is from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and will conclude with the tree lighting at Bicentennial Park at the corner of Main Street and Spring Street.
On Monday, December 9, the Town of Rochester hosts its annual Tree Lighting on the Rochester Green in front of Town Hall at 6:30 pm. Come and enjoy the holiday music provided by the Rochester Memorial School band and Chorus and witness the spectacle of Santa’s grandiose arrival via fire engine.
Cookies and hot drinks will then be served inside the Town Hall meeting room after the lighting of the tree.
After a well-deserved rest, Santa will be back with his annual appearance at the Mattapoisett Holiday in the Park on Saturday, December 14, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Local restaurants will be inside the big tent ready to serve the crowd heaps of free fresh food and hot drinks, and The Showstoppers will be gathered beneath the gazebo singing plenty of holiday hits.
We can’t imagine a more festive setting for the holidays than right here in the Tri-Town. The Wanderer will be out and about at all of these events, so be sure to smile for the camera when we point it in your direction!