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IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS – Remember the old normal of 2017? That Dec. 2 Santa arrived in the Hook & Ladder Department’s white fire truck about 5:30 and 1-2-3 poof, with the help of children the Town’s Christmas tree’s lights came on, like magic. Christmas is still magical. It is just very different this year. Please read your children the letter from Santa, page 2. – File photo by Ken Stern
Santa Claus is coming to town – just not as often this Christmas season.
The COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions to stem its spread will limit Santa’s appearances in La Conner, but Mayor Ramon Hayes – who calls himself an eternal optimist – is confident travel advisories around the globe will be lifted in time for the jolly toymaker and his reindeer to fly under the radar and arrive late on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to children who avoided the 2020 naughty list.
However, cancellation of such favorite start of December events as the live Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Gilkey Square, La Conner Rotary Club’s Pancake Breakfast with Santa at Maple Hall and the Swinomish Yacht Club’s lighted Christmas Boat Parade will definitely lower Santa’s local profile.
Town officials are adapting as best they can to pandemic guidelines.
Town Administrator Scott Thomas said that instead of the live tree lighting there will be a virtual one.
“There will be a tree and it will go up this week and be decorated,” Thomas told the Weekly News on Monday. “Usually it’s a live event with a countdown, but this year it will be on-line.”
The Virtual La Conner Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday from 5-5:15 p.m., according to the Chamber of Commerce website. Log onto www.lovelaconner.com to view the tree lighting.
Santa Claus has beens driven to the live tree lighting by members of La Conner Hook & Ladder. He has also been guest of honor at Rotary’s annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa gathering on the first Saturday of December.
“Unfortunately,” Thomas said, “we’re not going to be able to do that.”
To help offset the disappointment, Rotary Club members plan to place banners in town that can be used as backdrops for family Christmas photos that ordinarily would have been taken on Santa’s knee, said Thomas.
Thomas said the Chamber’s annual “Jingle Belles” shopping getaway in November was scuttled due to COVID-19.
“We’ve had so many things planned (for the holidays),” he said, “but a lot of those things have gone out the window.”
This month’s events calendar has been pared down so much that Thomas had little upon which to report during the Town Council’s tele-conferenced Nov. 24 meeting.
“So many events have been canceled here,” Thomas told Council, “that there’s relatively little to report on.”
Still, Thomas and Hayes note that the lights have not been completely turned off in regard to Christmas this year.
Far from it.
They point out that Rainbow Bridge is due to be lit this week and that 400 luminaries have been donated for a hoped for Dec. 14 First on First shopping evening.
“I prefer to look at this December as an opportunity,” Hayes said. “No. 1, the bridge is going to be lit. That’s a big deal. People have wanted that for years, ever since it was unlit. And now with new technology and the Town, County and Port coming together on this, we’re able to make it happen.
“No. 2,” he said, “this is an opportunity for everyone to support small businesses in town. It can be neighbors looking out for neighbors and community looking out for community type of thing.”
Santa may not be here in person quite as much, Thomas and Hayes said, but he will be in La Conner in spirit.
“We will have a tree for people to enjoy, we’re lighting the bridge and First on First will be doing what it can to enhance everyone’s holiday experience here,” Hayes said.
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