Santa Claus draws crowd in Sisters

Sisters children gave Santa their Christmas lists after Saturday's parade. photo by Tom Chace

The kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Their parents lined up for hot chocolate or coffee. They all greeted one another and wished a happy holiday to friends and neighbors at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce "Open House" following the annual Sisters Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon, November 29.

The crowd at the Visitors Center numbered well over 200. They milled around the spacious lawn at the corner of Elm Street and Main Avenue talking about the "best ever" parade just finished and the wonderful Christmas Tree Lighting event at Barclay Park the evening before.

Lois Worcester was one of those serving cider and hot chocolate and fancy cookies to all who came to her decorated table. Tracy Leonhardy and her mother, Bobbe, showed up with four of their Christmas-garbed miniature donkeys in tow.

And Santa and Mrs. Claus sat regally in a red sleigh as child after child climbed upon Santa's lap for a confidential chat about needs and wants for Christmas, now just days away. Parents got plenty of photo-ops and cameras flashed a dozen times a minute.

Over by the bonfire, another group sipped their hot drinks and chatted about the especially mild weather "for this late in November." Even the meteorology cooperated, changing from a slight drizzle in the early afternoon to a cool but dry day at party time.