By GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott Police Association will be hosting its annual holiday parade on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. as the seaside town gears up for the holidays. The parade starts Swampscott High School and ends at Town Hall.
Jim Schultz, a detective with the Swampscott Police Department and vice-president of the police association, said people can donate to Toys for Local Children during the parade. A van staffed with high school students and police officers collects the toys along the route, which are then turned over to the town’s schools, where the fundraiser is organized.
Schultz said last year’s parade had close to 200 participants, including police and fire departments from local communities, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, Little League and Pop Warner teams, but is open to anyone who would like to put in a float or vehicle. Santa Claus makes an appearance at the end.
“It brings people out,” Schultz said. “It brings people together. And, of course, the most important thing is you’re giving a gift to a child that’s not going to get much for Christmas.”
The town’s Recreation Department will be holding its Holiday Festival the same day, which starts at 5:30 p.m. with a flashlight candy cane hunt at Linscott Park, sponsored by the YMCA. On the Town Hall lawn, there will be music and a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Music and an indoor gingerbread house display will be ongoing until 9 p.m. Free ice-skating with skate rentals will take place on the lawn beginning at 10 a.m.
Danielle Strauss, recreation director, said there were more than 1,000 people packed on the Town Hall lawn last year for the festival, so space will also be used at the nearby First Church in Swampscott Congregational. At the church, girl scouts and boy scouts will be selling cookies and hot chocolate, and Irish step dancers will be performing.
The festival is free for patrons, but costs the town about $6,000, according to Strauss.
Before the main holiday events, Breakfast with Santa will be at the Swampscott Senior Center this Saturday at 9 a.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. All proceeds benefit Toys for Local Children. Strauss said breakfast is provided by local companies.
“It’s a nice place to come with your kids to see Santa, so that you’re not standing in line at the mall,” she said. “Some kids are a little shy about Santa. They can kind of observe him from afar or sit on his lap.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.