In Port Angeles, he arrived on the back of a motorcycle.
In Sequim, his preferred mode of transportation was a mule-pulled wagon.
In both towns, Santa Claus greeted well-wishers and heard their Christmas wishes on Saturday. In Sequim, Santa arrived before noon in a Timberland WagonEars wagon at the Bank of America Park.
There, about 200 people enjoyed music by the Sequim Band and the holiday lighting — all sponsored by the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
In Port Angeles, watched by about 300 people, he switched on the 8,000-or-so lights on the community Christmas tree at First and Laurel streets at about 5 p.m.
Six bikers from the Patriot Guard riders escorted Santa into town on their decorated motorcycles for the tree lighting, which is put on by the Port Angeles Downtown Association and sponsored by First Federal.
The crowd joined in as Santa counted down from 10 to light the tree, donated by Jim Carey of Sequim.
Prior to Santa’s arrival, the crowd was entertained by the Hamilton Elementary Winter Choir, Northwest Women’s Chorale, and singer Amanda Bacon.
Cookies, coffee and hot chocolate were served by the Rainbow Girls service club.
And there was certainly no shortage of holiday spirit as children, parents and grandparents gathered together to be part of the community event, and many were singing along to the familiar holiday songs.
“It’s uplifting to see all the people and the singing,” said Kim Gideon, 42.
Colleen Kirkpatrick of Milwaukee said she came to the event to enjoy it with her two granddaughters, who she was visiting for Thanksgiving.
“This is my Christmas with them,” said Kirkpatrick, 57. “It’s amazing. It feels like something out of an old Christmas movie.”
Referring to themselves as “elderly elves,” Roger McCollum of the Patriot Guard riders said being a part of community events is what the organization is all about.
The riders, from Port Angeles and Sequim, participate in several community events, including the Biker Toy Run last month, he said.
“We’ve been involved in these kind of things from day one,” said Hal Gilmour of the 12-year-old organization.
Last year, the Port Angeles Santa arrived in a trailer-pulled canoe and was escorted by tribal drummers. He also has arrived in a fire truck, logging truck, and even a Coast Guard helicopter.
Oh, by the way — he makes another Peninsula arrival . . . this time in Port Townsend aboard a fishing boat.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
