PORT JERVIS, NY — Santa Express, complete with Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, gingerbread man, snowman, and other well-loved characters, appeared in Port Jervis to start the holiday season for the second year in a row the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The area around the already busy Front Street was lit up with the Christkindlmarkt, a kind of open-air holiday market that took place earlier in the day, already drawing a full crowd. A tree lighting took place, and in a festive atmosphere, families with small children stood in hundreds to catch a glimpse of Santa, listen to Snow Queen who sang Christmas songs, and to dance with Santa and the characters on the Santa Express.

Santa Express has grown from a local event for area children in and around Eldred. It now spans three weekends in early December, visiting not only many towns in Sullivan County, but this year reaching to Milford, PA for the first time on December 7.

Paula Gans took part this year, closely bearing a resemblance to the singing Snow Queen.

Children of many ages stood around the Santa Express with their parents, waiting for their turn to dance with Santa. They formed a conga line circling the area, and some lucky ones (picked randomly from those waiting with the permission of their parents or guardians) lined up on the Santa Express, each one holding a letter that together formed the word “Christmas.”

Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker, who was in the crowd, estimated there were well over 500 people in the area.

Camryn Brohm, four years old, from Matamoras, came with her dad Bob. She was sitting on his shoulders, excitedly trying to soak in more of Santa and the Santa Express. “I like it,” she said about the event.

Hayden Mohr, three, and Craydon Blakely, three, came from Wurtsboro to see the Santa Express, and their parents said they enjoyed it, although their wide-open eyes full of excitement already said it all.

Erika Nemeth from Shohola sold Jamberry nail wraps in a huge covered tent that was wrapping up by the time Santa Express arrived. “I had a table. There were a lot of people, a constant flow of people coming in and out. It was a success,” Nemeth commented.

People flocked to the holiday event to do some holiday shopping, see the tree lighting, and of course, to bring their kids to see Santa Express. For more local holiday celebrations, see page 15.