By Donald Wittkowski
Lilah Lawrence wasn’t the least bit bashful about plopping down on Santa’s lap and letting him know what she wanted for Christmas.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the blonde, 5-year-girl from Perkasie, Pa., leaned over and whispered into his ear.
“I told him I wanted a radio that I can talk into,” Lilah said after seeing Santa. “He said that maybe he would bring it to me.”
Santa Claus heard Christmas wishes from many good little girls and boys after he arrived in Sea Isle City on Friday night on the Polar Express train. He was the star attraction in a colorful holiday parade that featured fire engines and other emergency vehicles blaring their sirens and flashing their lights.
The parade traveled down John F. Kennedy Boulevard to Excursion Park, where more than 1,000 cheering spectators greeted its arrival. Hundreds of children squealed in delight when Santa stepped on the stage at Excursion Park and led them in a medley of Christmas tunes.
“How many of you know who this is? What’s his name?” Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio asked the children in a booming voice.
“Santa!” the kids shouted back.
If Santa thought his appearance in Sea Isle was going to be a day at the beach, he was wrong.
First he had to ride in the parade, then the mayor put him to work singing and dancing on Excursion Park’s stage and then he listened patiently to the Christmas requests from all the children who sat on his lap.
“I want toy trucks, exclaimed 5-year-old Tommy Ruiz as he prepared to see Santa.
Tommy’s mother, Jackie Ruiz, of Middletown, Del., chuckled at her son’s enthusiasm. Her other son, 7-year-old Ryan, also was thrilled to see Santa.
“It was great,” Ryan said.
“It was exciting,” Tommy added.
Lilah, the little girl who told Santa she wanted a radio, was joined by her parents, Danielle and Sean Lawrence, her 7-year-old sister, Olivia, and 1-year-old brother, Jackson.
Lilah had a chance to touch Santa’s flowing white beard.
“It was soft,” she said.
Before the night was over, Santa also had the honor of flicking the switch to light the city’s towering holiday tree overlooking Excursion Park.
Santa will be back at Excursion Park on Saturday for more holiday festivities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be free ice skating, live entertainment and refreshments.
This was the fourth year that the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization sponsored the holiday celebration. Christopher Glancey, the chamber’s president, said the festivities not only are a big draw for families, but also help to boost local businesses by attracting more visitors to town.
“It’s a big weekend for us,” Glancey said, noting that local shops and restaurants are expected to be busy.
One popular attraction offered by the Chamber of Commerce this weekend is a free ice skating rink located in the middle of Excursion Park. The surface is fake ice, but it is cold and slippery like the real stuff.
Although temperatures hovered in the low 50s Friday evening, the ice skaters also reveled in fake snow that was created by a special machine.
“It’s fun because it’s fake snow,” said 5-year-old Connor Lipinski.
Connor and his 10-year-old sister, Jania, were among dozens of skaters enjoying the ice rink. Jania was gliding along, but Connor took a few spills before he began to get the hang of things.
“It’s fabulous,” Jania said.
Connor needed some help from his grandmother, Irene Lapinski of the Villas, to stay on his feet. After gaining his balance, he began skating on his own, prompting smiles from his grandmother.
“I think this is awesome,” Irene Lapinski said. “It’s a great thing that Sea Isle does for the kids. My grandchildren couldn’t wait to come here.”
