Santa and Friends greet fans at a safe distance

December 18, 2020  |  Photos by Gordon Miller

Santa leaves his sleigh and wagon behind this year for a drive-by visit at Rusty Parker Park in downtown Waterbury. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Kids and Santa settle for honks and waves this year to avoid close contact during the pandemic. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Friends are fine but Santa's the main attraction. Photo by Gordon Miller.

The elves mastered the Holiday Spirit Sticks in no time. Photo by Gordon Miller.

These folks make multiple Christmas stops. First a tree, then Santa in the park. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Does he really know if you've been good or bad? Photo by Gordon Miller.

The Easter Bunny studies Santa's curbside appeal. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Everyone likes to see Santa. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Santa accepts a rolled-up list from a backseat tot. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Quick hop out of the car for a photo with Santa at a distance. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Rusty Parker for a short time looked a little like the North Pole. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Even through an open car window, Santa's got some magic. Photo by Gordon Miller.

Who knew the Easter Bunny has a golden retriever? Photo by Gordon Miller.

The Waterbury Rotary Club’s annual Santa in the Park visit took on a pandemic twist last weekend as organizers rearranged it to be a drive-through event at Rusty Parker Memorial Park. 

Santa and Friends included Elf on the Shelf, Frozen’s Olaf, Elsa and Anna, other assorted helper elves, and not just one but two Easter bunnies. (The Easter egg hunt was canceled last spring, after all.) 

Rotary Club President Dan McKibben – a.k.a. the “Head Elf” for the event – said an estimated 200 youngsters slowly came through in vehicles with their parents and other grownups. The goodie bags ran out and were supplemented with candy canes from Kinney Drugs nearby. 

Santa stood safely on the grass, masked and waving to the kiddos while helper elves used decorated fishing-pole like “holiday spirit sticks” to hand out treats without any contact. 

Youngsters were allowed to pop out of their cars to stand near Santa for a quick photo. 

McKibben said thanks go to those who helped make it a fun and safe event: the Shepard family, Tami Bass, Zachary Smith, Denise McCarty, Patty McKibben and daughters Sadie and Tessa, Fred Dominguez and members of Waterbury Fire Department on the displays.

-Lisa Scagliotti