In a tradition that dates back more than five decades, Coral Bay welcomed Christmas by mixing and mingling, singing together and awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus in the front seat of the fire truck.
“Ho, ho, ho,” Santa said as the area’s children swarmed him.
About 75 people gathered at the Coral Bay basketball court for the annual celebration.
“I came to enjoy the singing, to hang around and enjoy the festivities,” said T’Sean Brady, who is home for the holidays from Miami.
Six-year-old Kalon Frett Jr. said he came from St. Thomas to see Santa.
Pat Mortenson was also on hand with her 22-year-old son Earle. “I haven’t been to a celebration in a long time,” she said.
While it was a joyful celebration, organizer Alvis Christian asked those at the event to pause for a moment to remember the “kids and teachers” who lost their lives in Connecticut, referring to the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown of 20 children and six teachers.
On happier themes, Christian spoke about the celebration’s origins. “It started right here in Sputnik,” he said, gesturing to the bar across the street.
He said seven Coral Bay residents decided to invite groups from the various areas in Coral Bay to sing, and that was the start of the celebration.
“We’re happy we’re here to carry it on,” Christian said.
Coral Bay has changed a lot since then, and many of its diverse groups of residents took their turns at the microphone.
Singers from Montessori School got the ball rolling with a rousing rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” complete with a student dressed as Frosty. They finished with the island version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” that has “and a trushie in a calabash tree” as the refrain.
Guy Benjamin School’s “Feliz Navidad” had many in the audience singing along.
The Upper Carolina Homeowner’s Association kept things moving with “Jingle Bells” complete with bells and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
Skinny Legs Restaurant and Bar entertained with “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.”
Groups from Calvary Baptist Church and Emmaus Moravian Church showed that all that Sunday singing paid off with their excellent voices.
“We wish you a merry Christmas,” sang a group of residents from the south side of the Coral Bay area, summing up the spirit of the celebration.
