Santa’s earlier-than-usual arrival at Woodstock’s village green angered some who missed his appearance and expressed their frustration on social media.
For more than 80 years, jolly ol’ Saint Nick has made a grand entrance, different each year, to the delight of children and adults of all ages. Last year, Covid forced him to take a break. The built-up anticipation was even greater this year.
The Chamber of Commerce & Arts posted a 5:30 arrival, having received that information from the Christmas Eve Committee. Instead, he showed up at around 5:10.
“I was very disappointed to walk into town and was told that Santa had come and gone, which means that the parade must have started at least 20 minutes early,” read one social-media post.
Reached by phone during his respite on an undisclosed tropical island, Santa said he was sorry that some people missed him.
Supervisor Bill McKenna, who has assisted with the Christmas Eve program for a couple decades, said the procession is timed to depart the town hall after the Trailways bus left, and it was no different this year. “We always pull out after the bus,” McKenna said. “Whether it’s the 5:15, 5:05, I’m not sure.”
The trip did seem a lot quicker this year, he noted.
Regardless of when the procession arrives on the green, there is always a mad scramble to get the street open again for a westbound bus scheduled to arrive at 6:15.
The recollection of locals is the parade has always started after the 5:15 bus. But it’s ironic how human memory can fail us sometimes. There is no 5:15 bus, according to the Trailways timetable. The eastbound bus is scheduled to arrive at 4:57 p.m.
That time varies depending on traffic, weather and other variables. The true arrival time in Christmas Eves-past may have been closer to 5:15, considering the bus driver had to carefully navigate past crowds that had overflowed from the sidewalk on to the street.
Police officers and volunteers tried to clear a path. This year, however, the crowd was thin, the bus was actually on time or close to it, and the procession that followed was earlier than in years past.
People are creatures of habit. Santa’s always come at 5:30…
“It think it’s important to remember that two rivals, Santa and the Grinch, were able to put their differences aside,” said McKenna.
Indeed, the Grinch rode on what many thought was Santa’s sleigh, but then Santa emerged from Mount Crumpit to the delight of all the onlookers.
One can only guess how he’ll arrive in 2022. Get there early, or you might miss him.
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