It's time for a pause with the Claus

Bremerton rang in the holidays Dec. 7 when Mr. and Mrs. Claus rode into town via fire truck.

About 100 people of all ages came downtown to join in the festivities, see Santa and his wife and maybe take in a carriage ride, provided by Bill’s Carriage Service of Hansville.

“I gotta give Santa a big hug when he comes,” said Jordan Mueller, 6, who was waiting excitedly to ask St. Nick for a doll that sounds like a real baby.

Cousins Andrew and Aaron Harley, aged four and five, both said they were asking Santa for a real dinosaur.

“I’m excited to say ‘hi’ to him,” Aaron said.

Bremerton Mayor Lynn Horton was out celebrating the holidays and her tenure as mayor.

“I think it’s (the turnout) great,” Horton said. “It’s really nice to see people coming downtown to support it. I urge people to continue to support Bremerton.”

Horton said her wish from Santa would be that the University of Washington cheerleading squad (her daughter is a member) does well at the next tournament.

The Bremerton High School (BHS) marching band, choir and drill team also was downtown playing holiday tunes.

“It’s pretty fun,” said Joanne Ibarra, a sophomore and member of the BHS drill team. “I like all the kids.”

Yukiko Izuka, a foreign exchange student from Japan who has been at BHS for four months, said the festivities were fun and she was excited to take part. Izuka, who will be in Bremerton for a year, is a senior and a choir member at BHS.

The Clam Island Band also was downtown playing Christmas carols. Jim Harris, a member of the seven-person band with members from South Kitsap to Silverdale, said he especially like the kids. All the members of the band wore top hats and small capes that looked like they were directly out of a Charles Dickens novel. Harris said he got his costume at Millie’s Tux and Bridal Shop and the Salvation Army.

Downtown business owners also put up decorative window displays for the holiday season.

In the Evergreen Children’s Theater and Puppet Museum window, there was a figure from Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen,” circa 1845, according to Marcia Parker the museum coordinator.

“In puppetry, the stories are based on folklore. (We wanted) to keep with a children’s story,” Parker said.

Metropolis The Gallery had a Christmas tree and a golden flying goose hanging in their window.

“We’ve had a different tree every year and this tree screamed for a goose,” gallery manager Tony White said.

The Metropolis also housed food and drink for people who joined in the festivities, including a cake that read “Thank You Mayor Horton.”

Sponsors for the event included the downtown Bremerton merchants, Swing City, Mainstreet Association, West Sound Arts Council, Washington Mutual Bank and The Sun and the Bremerton Patriot newspapers.

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