SHREWSBURY – It was a perfect December day for a jet ski ride down Lake Quinsigamond, Dec. 12, at least according to one local Santa.
After a successful first event a year ago, the Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association hosted its second annual Santa Run this past weekend.
Starting at the Corazzini Boat Ramp in Shrewsbury with a crowd of onlookers, Santa headed south down the lake while making stops at the Marine Corps. League, the Lake Park beach, and Regatta Point. The Watershed Association had organized drop offs for Toys for Tots at each of those stops.
The addition of these three locations was one way in which Paula Collins, a member of the association and organizer of this event, changed the 2021 Santa Run to increase involvement throughout the community.
“This year, we thought we should get more organized, and see if we could get some more stops for people who don’t live on the lake,” Collins said. “We also wanted to see if we could really encourage people who live on the lake to decorate their shores, make some noise, make some signs, and see who we could get out there.”
Watershed Association President Barbra Kickham said that the community turnout at the take off point, this year, was better than last year’s turnout. The additional stops would certainly bring in even more people, she continued.
“This year, we did a lot more advertising, and we have four viewing locations that we told people about as well,” Kickham said. “I’m very excited with how many people showed up just here alone.”
Santa also made some improvements to his outfit in this second year of trading a sleigh for a jet ski. That included adding a dry suit underneath his traditional red and white apparel to keep warm and dry throughout the ride.
The Shrewsbury Fire Department launched a boat and followed behind Santa in case of any emergency, Dec. 12.
RELATED CONTENT
Adaptive water-ski event makes waves on Lake Quinsigamond
New task force focuses on Lake Quinsigamond safety
