NEWBURYPORT — You've got to hand it to Santa Claus. He sure knows how to draw a crowd.
In distinctly un-wintry weather conditions, thousands of people packed Market Square for a glimpse of the jolly old elf yesterday afternoon for Newburyport's traditional tree lighting ceremony.
Unseasonably mild temperatures and sunny skies helped to bring out what appeared to be the largest crowd to attend the event, which is held annually on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Long before his scheduled 3 p.m. arrival, people gathered along the central waterfront boardwalk to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Most, but not all, of the families included small children, who displayed emotions ranging from bewilderment to frenzy as they waited.
Newburyport is the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard, so Santa always gives the reindeer the day off and makes his appearance in the Clipper City aboard a Coast Guard boat.
The Clauses arrived only a few minutes late yesterday. After they came ashore they were escorted to their sleigh in the easterly waterfront parking lot by a Newburyport Rotary Club contingent that annually fills in for the absent reindeer for the parade around downtown to Market Square.
Led by a city police cruiser, a fire engine and the local bicycle taxis, Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way up State Street, along Pleasant Street and down Green Street.
They were accompanied by sounds of the season played by the Triton Regional and Newburyport High School marching bands.
While the parade wound its way along, radio station WNBP broadcast live from the shadow of the city's tree, donated by Paul and Beverly Doyle of Russell Terrace Extension.
Both bands gathered around the tree and played a selection of Christmas carols before Mayor John Moak and Chamber of Commerce President Ann Ormond led a countdown to the illumination, which drew a hearty cheer from the crowd.
The bands marched back to their waiting buses, but Santa and Mrs. Claus stayed behind to greet people, wave and pose for photos.
Finally, after about 10 minutes, they made their way through the thinning crowd in the waning light, hopped into a police cruiser with City Marshal Thomas Howard behind the wheel and, with lights flashing, drove away.
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