Santa made his way to Marblehead and Swampscott Saturday morning at each town’s Breakfast with Santa event, hosted by their respective recreation departments.
“We’re here because our son is obsessed with Santa,” said Karen Philip, who enjoyed the Marblehead breakfast at the Masonic Temple with her husband Mark and their 4-year-old son Holden.
“We’re new to the town and this seemed like a perfect opportunity,” Mark said.
Holden was all smiles, eager to ask Santa for a police boat toy.
Swampscott Recreation Director Danielle Strauss said this year’s Breakfast with Santa event, which is in its 11th year, was probably the busiest one the town has ever had. It was at the town’s Senior Center and attended by more than 200 people. More than $1,600 was raised for Toys for Local Children (TLC), which exceeded last year’s amount of around $1,300.
Most times, Strauss said people go to the mall and wait in a long line for their children to get their picture taken with Santa, which is very commercial. With the town’s event, she said Santa sits in front of the fireplace and parents can take the pictures themselves.
“It’s just a really laidback way of seeing Santa,” Strauss said.
Jim Gennari came to the event with his wife, Annmarie and their two grandchildren, Valentina and Miles Kennedy.
“We just moved into Swampscott and it was just a nice way to meet people in our community,” Gennari said. “It was wonderful.”
Gennari said his daughter, Janel Kennedy, became a widow last year after her husband died at a young age because of a heart problem. She was living in Lynn and they were living in Boston so they decided to find a place in Swampscott and all move in together. He said they felt welcomed with the event.
“The kids were absolutely excited (to meet Santa), just like overjoyed,” he said. ‘It was just such a wonderful, wonderful occasion.”
In Marblehead, Dan Leavitt, who came to the event with his 4-year-old son Connor, said “we’ve been here for a few events before, it’s super convenient.”
Connor was very excited to meet Santa, and said he wanted to ask him for trucks.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the holiday. It’s a day filled with kids smiling and happy families,” assistant superintendent of the Recreation and Parks Department of Marblehead Jaime Bloch said.
The day became even more festive with the arrival of Santa, who was joined by some of his elves, including volunteer Bob Mace.
“He’s a great guy and he does a lot for the town,” Mace said of Hooper Goodwin, a local contractor who played Santa.
Mace was dressed in full elf attire, including a costume that students at Marblehead High School had made in a home economics class a few years earlier.
“I do this for the kids, it’s so great to see them smiling and happy.”
