Community Corner
A Barefoot Santa Spotted at the Garden City Pool
Kids and parents alike treated to an early holiday when Jolly Old St. Nick makes rare summer appearance.
It's something you don't see every day: Santa Claus, shoeless, standing in the shallow end of a public pool.
But that was the scene Sunday afternoon as the Garden City Pool held its now thrice-annual "Christmas in July."
The event kicked off at 1 p.m. with a jolly game of Christmas Bingo, the 30 or so participants ranging in age from 3 to 73.
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Emcee Tom McGerty kept the crowd laughing, cheering and jeering throughout the games, with excited kids begging for "one more number!"
McGerty, comfortable calling the letters and numbers, typically fronts family Friday Night Bingo. He changed up the vibe Sunday by playing holiday classics like "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and, ironically, a happy new year.
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Winners, after excitedly calling "Bingo," were treated to their choice of prizes like frisbees, picture frames and jigsaw puzzles.
Near the end of the game, a certain red-clad iconic figure sneaked his way into the crowd. From that point, berserk children followed Santa around, taking pictures and receiving small gifts like bracelets, bubbles and candy from his goodie bag.
Father Christmas was so revered by Garden City's children that when he visited the snack bar, one little girl bought him cookies and a peach snapple (it was far too hot for milk, or maybe peach snapple is just Santa's favorite drink).
Shortly after his snack, Santa led a throng of youngsters towards the water slide like a pied piper. He climbed to the top of the structure, ho-ho-ho-ing, then called and waved to swimmers.
After some parents chanted "Down the Slide!" Santa declined and descended the stairs. Shockingly, he was met with a shower of "boos" from those same adults. But Jolly Old St. Nick went on being jolly. Undeterred by the surprising gesture, with a shrug he stated, "I don't have my bathing suit."
The man in red finished his tour of the facility and took to the public address system. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas in July, reminded the patrons to donate to the local food drive and signed off with "Santa, out!"
The hugely successful event gave Garden City's citizens a brief reprieve from the oppressive summer heat, even if only in spirit. Christmas spirit, of course.
