PORT TOWNSEND — Santa arrived via horse-drawn carriage in Port Townsend on Saturday to the cheers of about 200 people gathered around Haller Fountain at the end of Taylor Street for the annual lighting of the community Christmas tree.
Friendship’s the thing about Port Townsend, Santa — who remained unidentified — said during the tree-lighting ceremony in a poem written especially for the occasion.
“It’s not just the season,” the poem said. It’s “why we all love here, for very good reason.”
One busy little girl couldn’t stay to say hello to Santa or tell him what she wanted for Christmas.
“I already opened all my presents,” Jasal Reynolds, 3, declared earlier while resting on a bench in front of Santa’s destination.
Dad Jason nodded, not a bit sheepishly. “Every day she says, ‘Please,’ and she says it so sweetly,” he explained.
Jasal said her best present is her brand-new bike. So far. Who knows what Santa has in mind?
Before toddling off on other business, Jasal said that if she had time to meet Santa, she would tell him, “I love Tom and Pookie and Clifford,” her cats and new puppy, in that order.
“That’s a good thing to say,” said her dad.
Three young boys huddled together near the fountain stuck around for the big event and a possible visit with Santa.
They all want the same thing this year.
“A nerf gun,” was the reply in unison from Pierre Ballou, 8, Eli Lacy and Finn Marlow, both 6.
Oh, and in case the line of children waiting to see Santa at Flagship Landing after the ceremonies was too long, Santa should know that Eli also favors a pedal-powered dirt bike, preferably red.
Pierre has his eye on a remote-controlled motor bike that can do wheelies, and Finn needs some more soldiers, lots of ’em — an Army pack. In fact, make that three, one for each buddy.
The ceremonies ended with a special gift for Linda Smith, too old to be expecting attention from Santa.
Her ticket was the winner of among 16,000 sold or given away by local merchants for a $1,000 spending spree from participating merchants.
The ceremony was organized by Port Townsend Main Street.
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Julie McCormick is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend. Phone her at 360-385-4645 or e-mail juliemccormick10@gmail.com.
