Santa arrives to kick off Christmas
Santa Claus greets his many fans at the annual tree lighting ceremony at Jeff Jones Town Square. The Jolly Old Elf left the reindeer at home, choosing to arrive at the annual event with the help of Selkirk Fire.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan says hello as he visited Sandpoint during the town's annual tree lighting ceremony Friday at Jeff Jones Town Square.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus poses for a photo Friday with some fans as the Jolly Old Elf visited Sandpoint for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
The community gathers around the town Christmas tree at the start of Friday's annual tree lighting ceremony.
A family poses for a photo after the town Christmas tree was lit for the first time on Friday.
Area residents line up for a cup of hot chocolate during Friday's annual tree lighting ceremony.
The Jolly Old Elf himself came to town Friday to help the community kick off the Christmas season.
The community, after all, is known as Santa-point, Idaho-ho-ho during the holiday season.
Hundreds of excited youngsters of all ages packed Jeff Jones Town Square on Friday for the city's annual tree lighting ceremony. Families gathered around the town Christmas tree, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate — 20 gallons in total — as they waited for Santa to arrive.
As news was shared that Santa was en route to the city center, the elf's many fans made their way to Third Avenue to watch for the fire truck. Santa, who had had to land his sleigh in a less congested area, had been picked up by Selkirk Fire crews, who were giving him a lift to the town square on one of their fire trucks.
As the clock inched closer to Santa's arrival, the number of anxious youngsters lined the sidewalks to shyly wave "hello," bundled in winter coats and beanies.
Within a few minutes, the Jolly Old Elf himself was stepping out of the bright red fire truck welcomed by excited area youth — and an elf security squad was on hand to ensure everything was merry and bright.
For some, the fact that Santa arrived on a firetruck was a much better mode of transportation than if he'd brought Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer crew.
Led by members of the Sandpoint Shopping District elf security crew, Santa made his way to a chair of honor. There were hugs and smiles, some shy and others big and wide — as well as they occasional bout of crying as some of Santa's young fans weren't too sure of what to make of the excitement.
Some wanted Legos. Others wanted dolls or toy cars. Some wanted video games, while others gift cards or their favorite movie.
Others wanted classic boardgames like "Monopoly," others wanted their games found on the latest electronic game system, others hoped for a camera or a phone.
The lists given to Santa ran the gamut.
When asked if they'd been nice, most said yes but with some hesitation. Santa told them that one incident of naughtiness could be overlooked and assuring them that they were still on his "nice" list.
Not everyone was excited to see Santa with a bout of tears or two and the occasional skeptical youngster who asked Santa if he was the REAL Santa Claus.
"Of course I am the real Santa," the Jolly Old Elf said, asking where else would he be other than Sandpoint.
The youth smiled, gave Santa a hug, whispered what they wanted for Christmas and received a candy cane for being good this year.
The annual visit marks the start of the holiday season in Sandpoint as the lights on the town Christmas tree were turned on for the first time this season.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan says hello as he visited Sandpoint during the town's annual tree lighting ceremony Friday at Jeff Jones Town Square
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony. 
Santa Claus welcomes the community to the town's annual tree lighting ceremony Friday. The event marks the start of the holiday season in the Sandpoint area.
Santa Claus listens as a young fan shares what they would like for Christmas as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus poses for a photo with a pair of fans as the Jolly Old Elf came to Sandpoint on Friday for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus poses for a photo Friday with some fans as the Jolly Old Elf visited Sandpoint for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus spends time with fans of all ages during a visit to the community's annual tree lighting ceremony Friday.
The community gathers around the town Christmas tree at the start of Friday's annual tree lighting ceremony.
A family poses for a photo after the town Christmas tree was lit for the first time on Friday.
Area residents line up for a cup of hot chocolate during Friday's annual tree lighting ceremony.