Crowds Come Out To Welcome Santa Claus During Hometown Holly Days
WARSAW – Crowds lined the street for the First Friday “Hometown Holly Days” and the annual Twinkle Parade, welcoming Santa as he rolled in on his horse drawn carriage. Joining Santa Claus in the parade was Mayor Joe Thallemer and his wife Jill, the Grinch, several Warsaw groups and the Warsaw Public Works and Street Department.
With the parade ending at Center Lake Park, Santa and Mrs. Claus left their carriage to visit with children and families in the Center Lake Pavilion.
Back in the downtown square families lined up to wait to meet Santa Claus at the Breakfast Optimist Club Santa House, located on the courthouse lawn, and to catch a carriage ride around the square.
This event kicked off the lighting of the Center Lake Park annual light display. The display, which features over 200,000 lights, was started in 1997 when N. Bruce Jr. and Ann Howe donated much of their Christmas display to the Warsaw Parks Department.
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- Mayor Joe Thallemer and his wife Jill rode in a horse drawn carriage, just like Santa and Mrs. Claus.
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- The Grinch opens a small gift in front of photographers David Slone, left, and Al Disbro
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- The Grinch wasn’t attempting to steal Christmas here, just spreading holiday cheer.
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- Many street department vehicles were cheerfully decorated.
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- The street department will apparently be cleaning up coal this Christmas morning.
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- The Warsaw Street Department, whose vehicles comprised most of the parade, wished the crowd a Merry Christmas
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- Carriage rides around the downtown area were available for the donation of a canned food item, dried food good, new toy or cash.
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- A long line was waiting outside Santa’s Workshop.
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- Celebrate the first lighting of the Central Park holiday light display from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.
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- The parade kicked-off the Center Lake Park Christmas lights.
