Santa arrives in style in Southborough

Santa and an elf arrive in Southborough via helicopter. Southborough - Christmas arrived in Southborough in a rush of whirling wind. Santa descended in a helicopter in front of hundreds of dazzled onlookers at the St. Mark's School playing fields. He made his way along a throng of delighted children who lined the field and into the nearby Community House, where he asked children what they wanted for Christmas and delivered candy canes.

Each child emerged from their session with Santa with a framed picture they had decorated themselves, and hot chocolate and cookies.

Parents and children were equally delighted.

"The kids really get a kick out of this and so do the parents," said Tom Barnes of Southborough, whose daughter Avery, 5, spent several minutes talking with Santa. "She was dragging us out of the house this morning."

Children and parents strained to get a glimpse of Santa as he walked down the safety line strung around the edge of the field, after the helicopter made two low passes and landed amid cheers.

Below: Alec Ober, 8, Southborough, lets Santa know what his Christmas list includes. "You could literally feel the ground vibrating," said Clare Carreras, who chaired the event. "The kids were so excited."

A community play group called Kindergroup organized the event, which has been a feature of Southborough's holiday season for decades. For the past 10 years, Santa has been flown in by helicopter. In previous years, he arrived by fire truck and by hay wagon, said Bea Ginga, the caretaker of the Community House.

"I love it," Ginga said. "I don't go anywhere when this is on."

Kindergroup collected small donations at the door, which pays for the event. Any excess goes to support the Community House and other projects around town, Carreras said.

About 300 people attended Santa's arrival.

Left: Children eagerly await Santa's approach.