Santa Claus Lights The Chamber's Tree

The children of Bayport and Blue Point must have been good this year because Santa Claus showed up in town again for the annual Tree Lighting and Party.

This holiday tradition took place on the front lawn of the .  Just a few years ago, a small Christmas tree was planted by the front lobby specifically to be used for the annual tree lighting.

The Bayport-Blue Point High School chorus and band entertained the crowd in Santa hats with cheerful Christmas music.  Children waiting for Santa Claus to arrive sang along to "Jingle Bells."

The bitter cold and chilly winds did not keep families from greeting Santa Claus as he pulled up on a .  The children jumped and squealed as Santa Claus made his way to the tree.  After he flipped the switch to light the tree in a colorful glow, Santa posed for photos and listened to Christmas wishes from the children. 

Julia and Kimberly, both 9-years-old from Blue Point, said "That was awesome!  Santa told us to leave him chocolate chip cookies on Christmas Eve" after sitting with St. Nick.

Chamber member and Seth Needelman, served as the photographer for the night.  He took pictures of the children with Santa Claus and they were downloaded to a printer in the lobby.  The Chamber printed the photographs right there so everyone could take a souvenir of the tree lighting home with them.

Many in the crowd wondered why the tree lighting was not held at .  Karl Auwaerter, chamber member, explained each year they would go back and forth between Bayport and Blue Point.  While the high school was under construction the tree lighting was at Blue Point Elementary School for four years in a row.  So it will be held next year in Blue Point.

Newly elected chamber president Laura Rogacki was excited to be a part of her first tree lighting event, she said, "The Tree lighting went really well.  It is a nice annual event that everyone looks forward to.  We are really lucky the executive board is very helpful and just jumps right in." 

When the children finished telling Santa Claus their Christmas wishes everyone went inside the school for hot chocolate with whipped cream, sandwiches, cookies and candy canes.  7-11 in Bayport donated the goodies for everyone to enjoy and Boy Scout Troop 329 volunteered to help served the treats.  Bayport Fire Department also did a great job escorting Santa to the tree lighting on a fire truck. 

Rogacki hopes the community will support our local businesses during the holiday season.