Santa receives a key to the city from twins Logan and Matthew Price, 7, of Southgate and Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa (at microphone) following the city’s Dec. 5 tree lighting at Kiwanis Park.
Santa rides the first Great Lakes Steamer train to the south side of the park to greet children Dec. 5 as part of the Christmas Express train rides at Southgate’s Kiwanis Park.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE – The Great Lakes Steamers train group hosted Santa’s Christmas Express train rides Dec. 5 and 6 at Kiwanis Park, 13901 Leroy St., along with a Dec. 5 tree lighting ceremony.
Twins Logan and Matthew Price, 7, of Southgate, lit the city’s Christmas tree to serve as a beacon to Santa, who arrived in bright and loud fashion, not in his sleigh but on a city firetruck.
Mayor Joseph Kuspa provided Santa with a key to the city, while a local church quartet led carols.
Following the tree lighting, families rode Great Lakes Steamer trains to the opposite end of the brightly lit park to greet Santa, Mrs. Claus, and, for the brave, the Grinch, before returning by train to the starting point at the north end of the park.
Great Lakes Steamers member Louie Pittoli said the group’s members like decorating and lighting up the park, as well as creating a fun-filled event for the children.
“I think we are the only park in southeast Michigan where we offer a train ride, where the kids can board at the north end of the park and we take them to where Santa is,” he said. “They can visit with Santa and they can get free hot chocolate and a candy cane, then we pick them up and take them back to the north end.”
Pittoli said the group spends about a week setting up the lights in the park, with the city adding some LED displays as well.
Santa rides the first Great Lakes Steamer train to the south side of the park to greet children Dec. 5 as part of the Christmas Express train rides at Southgate’s Kiwanis Park.
Marshall Dodds, 8, of Wyandotte greets Santa and the Grinch with his father Dec. 5 following a Christmas Express train ride at Southgate’s Kiwanis Park.
Louie Pittoli of the Great Lakes Steamers prepares for the Santa Christmas Express miniature train rides to see Santa the evening of Dec. 5 at Kiwanis Park, 13901 Leroy in Southgate.
Twins Logan and Matthew Price, 7, help Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa (at podium) light the city’s Christmas tree the evening of Dec. 5 at Kiwanis Park, 13901 Leroy.
Santa rides the first Great Lakes Steamer train to the south side of the park to greet children Dec. 5 as part of the Christmas Express train rides at Southgate’s Kiwanis Park.
The Great Lakes Steamers group prepare for the Santa Christmas Express miniature train ride to see Santa the evening of Dec. 5 at Kiwanis Park, 13901 Leroy in Southgate.