Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa brings cheer to PT

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Santa took time out from his busy schedule at the North Pole to make several stops in Jefferson County on Dec. 3, with his last being at the Port Townsend Community Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The Kiwanis Club’s George Earl Memorial Choo Choo chauffeured Santa along Water Street to Haller Fountain, where the jolly one was welcomed by about 500 people.

The Wild Rose Chorale performed carols, and Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson and Santa offered messages to ring in the holiday season in the program sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program.

Cast members from Key City Public Theatre’s “Spirit of the Yule” performed scenes from the original musical, which runs through Dec. 30 at the theater. The show is a classic Scrooge tale, revised to take place in Victorian Port Townsend in 1889.

The 15-foot noble fir tree was lit at 4:45 p.m.; this year it features a new tree topper donated by Christel Hildebrant of the Uptown Pub and ornaments made by children from Grant Street Elementary School. The city’s historic Bell Tower bell, on the bluff behind Haller Fountain, was illuminated by Fyerlite Grip and Lighting Services.

After the tree lighting, Santa visited with 130 children, along with their parents and grandparents, inside the Cotton Building.

The Tree Lighting Celebration is coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Program’s Promotion Committee with assistance from community partners, East Jefferson Fire Rescue, City of Port Townsend departments, businesses and volunteers.

Main Street’s “Look Here First” holiday campaign is sponsored by the City of Port Townsend, many local merchants, First Federal, The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, Enjoy Port Townsend, SOS Printing, Olympic Peninsula Steam and KPTZ-FM 91.9.