After an absence of a year – kept from making his normal stop at the Farmington firehouse in 2020 due to COVID – Santa Claus was back in town this past Friday night.
And the rousing reception from the kids and their parents proved he was missed last year and everyone was happy to be able to share some holiday joy in 2021.
Fire officials arranged to have Santa, Mrs. Claus and their young helper arrive via fire truck, Santa waving as he stood on the back of the rig, coming in with lights flashing.
Residents from the community gathered in the firehouse prior to Santa’s arrival on Dec. 17, with holiday music, hot cider, hot chocolate, juice and coffee available to drink and more plates of homemade holiday treats than you could count. Frosted cookies, peanut butter, snickerdoodles, brownies and more were available and those attending were more than happy to eat them up.
The Debord family – dad James, mom Leticia, son Nathaniel, 8, and daughter Elena, 6, were there for the first time.
“We heard about it at school, they sent a flyer home,” explained Leticia. “We decided to come.”
Dad and son had matching Christmas-themed Baby Yoda sweaters they were wearing, while all were enjoying some sweet treats.
At the main table covered with plates of the homemade goodies, Farmington Elementary School first graders and friends Deleida Garcia and Julissa Flores were carefully making their selections to eat before the guest of honor arrived.
Doors at the firehouse opened at 6:30 p.m. and Santa’s arrival was just about 7 p.m.; the fire siren blaring outside as the fire truck came in to view. Kids quickly exited the firehouse and spilled out to the front area, waving and smiling. Young Francisco Contreras, 3, was the first to greet Santa and had the chance for a quick hug before other kids got high fives.
From there, the procession moved back inside and kids waited for the chance to sit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helper to share some gift lists, receive a coloring book, crayons and a candy cane. Parents could also take photos of their children with Santa at the event.
Department officials said they were very pleased with the turnout, not sure what to expect after missing last year. But they needn’t have worried; they planned for about 150 visitors for Santa and appeared to come pretty close to that mark.
