Ahoy, Santa!

By AMANDA STEWART
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: December 3, 2008

OCCOQUAN — Saturday felt like Christmas in Occoquan.

There were wreaths on shop doors, carolers in the streets and, the main attraction, Santa Claus was in Town Hall.

Dozens of children, parents and grandparents crowded on the dock to wait for Santa to arrive by boat, an annual Christmas tradition in the town.

Five-year-old Hannah Johnson found a good spot to wait for Santa’s arrival.

She stood on top of a picnic table on the dock, scanning the river for signs of Santa’s boat.

“There he is! I see a boat!” she said, jumping up and down on the table.

Hannah’s mother, Michelle Johnson, said the family has come to see Santa in Occoquan for the past three or four years.

Woodbridge resident Joyce Jolly brought her grandsons to see Santa this year.

E.J., 6, said he was excited to see Santa, but his 2-year-old brother, Nate, was less sure.

“He told me he’s going to close his eyes so he won’t be scared,” Jolly said.

But, eyes closed or not, Nate said he was going to tell Santa that he wanted Thomas the Tank Engine toys for Christmas.

E.J. said Santa already knows what he wants. He sent him “a long list” of his Christmas wishes.

The crowd on the dock waved and clapped when Santa’s boat pulled up.

Many parents held children on their shoulders and digital cameras in their hands as everybody tried to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus.

Santa got off the boat and shook hands with some eager children, before taking a horse-drawn carriage ride down to the Town Hall, where a line of children waiting to see him stretched for about a block.

Santa’s annual visit to Occoquan is sponsored by the Occoquan Merchants Association.

Amanda Stewart is a staff writer at the News & Messenger.