CHOOOO! CHOOOO! Direct from the North Pole, Santa Claus arrived by special train in Midway on Saturday, Nov. 29, along with Top Elf Alexiana Gumdrop (right) and Assistant Top Elf Corman Candycane. (Photo by Janice Weeks)

FRIENDS Brian and Erin Chrystal with Toby and Dawn Perez were part of the big crowd estimated at 1,500 to welcome Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to Midway. (Photo by Erin Breslin)

A EUROPEAN MARKET, sponsored by the Midway Merchants Association, provides an opportunity to shop local vendors for holiday gifts. The market is open every Friday through Dec. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the courtyard between Main and Martin Streets. (Photo by Zach Rankin)

SANTA WAS ESCORTED to his deluxe and well-appointed tent in Midway on Saturday, Nov. 29, to meet boys and girls by Midway Merchants members Zach Rankin, left, and Cortney Neikirk. (Photo by Kenny Smith)

By Scott White

Managing Editor

The holiday season has officially hit Woodford County with the arrival of the Santa Train in downtown Midway on Saturday, Nov. 29. A huge crowd, estimated at 1,500, of good boys and girls, shoppers at the new European Market, Midwegians and tourists flocked the intersection of Main and N Gratz Streets to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with Top Elf Alexiana Gumdrop and Assistant Elf Corman Candycane.

This was the Claus’s first stop on their pre-Christmas Eve tour of America.

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he thought the visitors to the Midway Merchants Association’s first European Market, in the courtyard area between Main and Martin Streets, helped boost the crowd.

“It was fantastic, and the merchants have done a terrific job,” he said. “Thanks, too, to RJ Corman for loaning Santa one of their train engines and clearing rail traffic.”

Midway Councilmember Patrick Hall added, “It’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen, and the weather was perfect.”

The European Market will be open every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., with arts and crafts vendors, hot chocolate, and Fraser fir Christmas trees for sale. Many downtown merchants have also extended hours on those nights, along with Midway’s famous restaurants.

Following their arrival, Santa and Mrs. Claus met with scores of children to hear wish lists and answer questions about reindeer language, elf training and the tale of the rescue on the Island of Misfit Toys. The annual Christmas Tree lighting was also held.

The Sun has been told by a confidential source in the North Pole that, though Vandegrift, along with City Council members Kaye Nita Gallagher, Mary Raglin, Logan Nance, Steve Simoff and Ian VanSteenbergh will be on the “Good Boys and Girls” list, Hall still has some work left to secure his spot.

Editor’s Note: Parents, older siblings and other spoilsports: Do not allow any kid under 12, or anyone, like Sun Editor Scott White, who remains a believer, to read the following: Kenny Smith reprised his role as Santa’s chief emissary to Midway and Top Elf was Alexandra Woodruff. RJ Corman elf asked to remain anonymous.