By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
He’s someone who certainly needs no introduction, but he got one anyway amid a thunderous reception that might have been heard all the way in the North Pole.
“Let’s hear it for the one and only – Santa Claus!” Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio boomed into the microphone.
With that, an overflowing crowd erupted in applause and cheers as Santa bounded onto the stage at the Band Shell in Excursion Park.
“Ho-ho-ho,” he called out while greeting his admirers with enthusiastic waves.
Making a grand appearance in Sea Isle on Friday night, Santa pulled yeoman’s duty by leading the annual holiday parade and then joining with hundreds of children in singing a medley of Christmas carols.
He also helped the mayor flip the switch to light the city’s 30-foot Christmas tree that towers above Excursion Park just steps from the beach.
“Santa’s here in Sea Isle City. Can you believe it? Desiderio asked the children sitting near the Band Shell’s stage.
All in all, it was a joyful night for the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route and then packed into Excursion Park for the caroling and tree-lighting festivities.
“I think this is the largest crowd I’ve ever seen for any event in Sea Isle,” Desiderio said while peering out from the stage in Excursion Park. “The amount of people is amazing. If this is any indication of what it will look like for the holidays, then we’re going to have a great season.”
The celebration began with a colorful parade that rolled through town starting at around 6 p.m.
Leaving Rudolph and the other reindeer at home in the North Pole, Santa arrived aboard his fancy Polar Express locomotive as the parade’s guest of honor.
Cast members from the Disney animated children’s film “Frozen” and the Grinch were among the characters that made special appearances in the parade on shimmering floats. The Grinch, flashing his trademark frown, later became friendly and received some hugs from young fans when he appeared at Excursion Park.
“I saw the Grinch. He was cool,” Liam Ruxton, 4, exclaimed while watching the parade.
Liam Mehlhouse, 8, was equally excited to see Santa and other parade characters pass by when the parade rolled through the intersection of Landis Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
“I think it was neat,” Liam said. “I liked seeing all the fun characters. I saw Santa on his Polar Express.
Some families staked out a prime spot at the corner of 49th Street and Central Avenue to catch a glimpse of Santa just as the parade was starting. Others waited for the parade to end at Landis Avenue and JFK Boulevard.
The parade also featured brightly decorated floats with twinkling lights. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles added to the procession’s multicolor splendor by flashing their lights and blaring their sirens.
Although it wasn’t quite North Pole-like at the shore, the temperature dipped into the 40s to give Sea Isle a slightly Christmassy feel weather-wise. Some spectators were bundled up in coats, scarves, gloves and hats.
Before the dramatic night ended, there was one other honor that Santa performed to cap off the celebration. He sat on stage while dozens of children plopped on his lap or stood next to him for photo-ops. Some of the children shared their Christmas wishes with Santa while spending some precious one-on-one time with him.
Santa, in turn, had some words of advice to the good boys and girls of Sea Isle that we could all take to heart.
“Be good,” he said. “Be good in school, be good to your friends, be good to your parents. Utmost, be good to your teachers.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “And always believe.”
