Santa Train departs this Saturday
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
Festivities begin on the East Troy Village Square at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Christmas carol sing-along led by the East Troy Community Band to keep everyone entertained while waiting for the guest of honor – Santa Claus.
“Santa’s arrival via East Troy Electric Railroad trolley has become a cherished part of East Troy’s holiday season,” says East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Lenz. “It’s a tradition that will never grow old and nicely captures our town’s spirit.”
The annual event is presented by the East Troy Electric Railroad in conjunction with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce.
East Troy Cub Scout Pack 92 will be selling hot dogs and baked goods. The East Troy Lioness Club will also offer walking tacos and hot beverages in the warmth of the Lions Lodge on the square while everyone waits for Santa.
According to Lenz, the original East Troy Christmas Parade train, started by the East Troy Jaycees and the railroad in 1972, was an historic reproduction of the Schuster’s Christmas Parade in Milwaukee. The Schuster’s Department Store chain sponsored the parade to kick off the Christmas shopping season from 1928 to 1955.
It has since become a beloved holiday tradition in the area, attracting crowds along the train route as well as the historic Village Square.
“Each year I hear new stories of locals who remember catching a glimpse of the brightly lit and decorated trolley as young children or parents and now as parents or grandparents,” says Lenz.
Santa Claus arrives in East Troy on Saturday, Dec. 7, via the East Troy Electric Railroad’s Santa Train, which leaves the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago at 4:30 p.m. and arrives at the Division St. crossing in East Troy at 6:10 p.m. with brief stops at crossings along the way:
• 5:15 p.m., Army Lake Road – Army Lake Camp
• 5:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Road;
• 5:50 p.m., Byrnes Street.
Spectators who aren’t aboard the train, can catch a glimpse of the Santa Train along Highway ES.
Santa is escorted to the East Troy Village Square via East Troy Fire Department truck to light the Bob Barutha Memorial Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m.
“The event, which always happens on the first Saturday in December, occurs at a prime time to jump start a month full of festivities in East Troy,” says Lenz. “It really gets you in the holiday spirit.”
Photos of children with Santa and Mrs. Claus are available following the tree lighting inside Ivan’s Backstage, 2093 Division St., at a cost of $5 each, with the proceeds to benefit the East Troy Food Pantry. The photographs are taken during the East Troy Holiday Marketplace from 5-8 p.m., featuring vendors offering a variety of holiday gift items and entertainment by Cork N Cleavage.
For more information, call (262) 642-3770 or email vanessa@easttroywi.org.
Midnight Magic in Mukwonago
Midnight Magic, sponsored by the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce, also takes place Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. until midnight throughout the community.
“It’s a Wonderful Night in Mukwonago” features pictures with Santa, The Enchanted Gingerbread Forest, Alaskan Malamute Dog Sled Pull, marketplace/craft fair, carriage rides, Christmas Parade, Festival of Trees, live nativity scene, holiday entertainment and fireworks.
For more information, visit www.mukwonagochamber.org.
