SACO  —  The jolly bearded man in a red suit made an appearance Thursday night at the Saco Central Fire Station.

After Thanksgiving dinners were eaten and the dishes done, local families flocked to see the man from the North Pole, who arrived by fire truck.

Santa Claus and a couple of his elves held court in the station’s lobby. Children enjoyed a light snack and holiday music in the station’s garage as they waited in line to see him. 

Some were a little star struck when they got their turn to see the big guy, and were at a loss for words, but some, like 8-year-old Reggie LeClair, knew exactly what they wanted. “A remote control helicopter,” he said. And yes, he’d been good, he said.

The decades-long tradition of hosting Santa on Thanksgiving night and decorating the fire station with holiday lights continueed when Central station moved to North Street about five years ago, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organizations and citizens who donated money for holiday lights.

Fire Chief John Duross said he remembers some of the parents who came with their little ones to the fire station on Thursday from years ago when their parents brought them to see Santa.

He anticipated at least 150 children, along with their families would come out on the drizzly night to the fire station to see Santa.

“This is just our way of giving back,” he said. 

Duross said Santa’s arrival on Thanksgiving and the department’s annual open house in the spring are the department’s two biggest public events. Both help bring people into the fire station and foster connections with community.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.