A large crowd showed up early to Saugus Center last Friday (Dec. 2) for the town’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Festivities. Hundreds gathered on the lawn outside Saugus Town Hall to enjoy more than three and a half hours of community fun and fellowship that featured the arrival of Santa Claus, the popular petting zoo, hot chocolate, continuous holiday music, horse-drawn sleigh rides, bounce houses, a trackless train, a booth for kids to get their photos taken with Santa Claus and a display of thousands of colorful holiday lights in downtown Saugus to welcome the holiday season. Guy Moley brightened the holiday spirits of many Saugus kids and their parents as he played the part of Santa Claus for this year’s event. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler).
Brian Cross did the honors again, as the DJ of the night, playing holiday music.Youth and Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes, Santa Claus and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree huddle on the top steps of Saugus Town Hall.The Saugus Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree gather around the Christmas tree in the first floor of Saugus Town Hall.Olivia Clark, a fifth-grader at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, cuddles a rabbit while a speckled Sussex bantam chicken competes for her attention.Kids reach out to a goat at the Petting Zoo.Joleen Jurczyk, of the Animal Craze Traveling Farm & Petting Zoo, holds her favorite pet: Steven Strange, the Goat.Ada MacQueston, 2, tries to make friends with a goat at the Petting Zoo.Sean Rock carried his daughter Makenzie, 2, atop his shoulders.Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Maureen Whitcomb with her son AndrewPrecinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione with his daughter Amelia, 2 1/2Dante Miller, a fourth-grader at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, got to be the first kid to greet Santa.Brody Crabtree, 9, a fourth-grader at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, was happy to hang around with Santa.Anna Bartmon-Vigneaux, a third-grader at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, was thrilled to meet Santa.Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree introduced Santa Claus.Santa’s horse-drawn sleigh arrived in front of the Saugus Public Library.Santa made his way toward Saugus Town Hall.Santa addressed the crowd.Emily Grant and Crystal Cakounes of the Park & Recreation Department hammed it up at the hot chocolate table.