What seemed like a perfectly fine idea was a bit more intense for Isabella Cottington as she and her sisters Rozaleigh, left, and Elizabeth climbed up on Santa and Mrs. Claus’ lap for their Christmas picture at Old Kyle City Hall during the city-wide celebration last week. (Photo by Lincoln Ramirez)
by BRENDA STEWART
Last Wednesday afternoon, right on cue, Saint Nick, a Kyle fire engine acting as his sleigh, came roaring up to the square, sirens wailing and lights flashing. The children and parents lined up around the Old City Hall cheered and waved as Santa was greeted by a waiting Mrs. Claus and they made their way through the crowd and into their “North Pole Headquarters” for the annual Picture With Santa tradition.
Outside in the park, scores of elementary school students were being corralled by harried choir teachers and nimble school volunteers as carolers from seven local campuses poured into the park, awaiting their time in the limelight. And as Santa got comfy in the Old City Hall, choir after choir clambered into the gazebo and up the steep bleachers to belt out their Christmas tunes to an adoring audience of camera-wielding parents and beaming grandparents.
Midway through the evening, the Clauses re-emerged and joined the mayor to light the towering Christmas tree for the largest yuletide gathering in Kyle history. In the light of the glowing tree, kiddos chased their shadows and made glittery holiday crafts while adults strolled the canopied booths plying everything from funnel cakes to hand crafted pizzas.
And as the crowd thinned a bit, a new wave of musicians began to fill the park as choirs from all five middle school campuses and Hays and Lehman high schools began to line up to entertain their friends and family with holiday songs they’ve been perfecting for months. And Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way back to their wooden love seat, next to the blazing “fire” as spunky elves ushered in child after child patiently waiting to whisper Christmas wishes into their ears.
