Santa Stops in Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – Hundreds of people showed up to visit Santa Claus during the city’s Santa Stops Here event.

Public Works Manager Ryan Wieland delivered Santa Claus to the City Pier Park shade sail structure at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon and Santa spent the next two hours greeting youngsters and listening to their Christmas wishes.

Each youngster who visited Santa received a small gift bag courtesy of the city and at times the line extended out to the Pine Avenue sidewalk.

Several youngsters and their families noted they’d attended past Santa Stops events and many attendees and returning attendees were visiting from other states. Isla and Anderson Smith, of Traverse City, Michigan, asked Santa for a Cookie Monster and a remote-controlled monster truck.

Kansas City visitor Kaylynn Merchant said Santa remembered her from last year and noticed the new braces on her teeth that she asked him for last year. Norie and Taylin Leland, from Minnesota, asked Santa for a Barbie doll and a Walking Barbie doll.

Some families also wandered over to the City Pier Park playground, where their little ones took a minute to write a quick note to Santa and drop it in his mailbox for delivery to the North Pole.

“It’s fun that they do this,” Toronto, Canada resident Jackie Eddolls said as her daughter, Goldie, wrote a note to Santa. While visiting Santa, Goldie asked for a baby doll and her sister, Lucy Kitchen, asked for a remote-controlled car.

“This is one of our best events and one of our favorite events,” Deputy City Clerk Debbie Haynes said. “It’s just wonderful to see so many kids with such happy little smiles on their faces. They’ve all got a little tale to tell Santa and some of them are giving him letters.”

Haynes also praised the efforts of the city staff members, including the Public Works Department, who helped organize and prepare for Friday’s event.