It was a magical night along many roadways in Elm Grove Thursday evening as Santa Claus and, a few of his friends from Wheeling drove by and waved to a plethora of children and adults.
The event, which began at 6 p.m. and extended close to two hours, was organized by Wheeling Councilman Dave Palmer (Ward 6) and his wife, Tammy, with help from the Savage family.
“It was a beautiful evening in Elm Grove, and Santa arrived on time,” Palmer explained. “His schedule, though, was a little behind because of how many children and adults alike were lined along the streets so they could catch a wave and say hello. It was pure joy that caused him to slow down a bit along the route.
“Santa really appreciated that so many people were still outside despite the delays,” the council member said. “Santa said it felt as if the children and the adults of Elm Grove gave him a Christmas present last night. That’s how much he appreciated seeing everyone since he wasn’t able to visit the area last month.”
‘Tis the Season
For a few minutes, Palmer believes, the Christmas cruise allowed residents of the Elm Grove neighborhoods to forget about the coronavirus pandemic that began in March and has caused stay-at-home orders, the shuttering of non-essential business, high rates of hospitalizations, the cancelations of nearly every event, and far too many tragedies for local families.
“We expected to see a lot of children out there, but the number of adults who came outside without any kids was a really great thing to see, too,” Palmer said. “I think it proved that when it comes to Santa Claus, we’re all kids at heart. The pure joy we saw during these tumultuous times in 2020 was really a special thing see.
“For those brief moments during the tour, I think it allowed a lot of people to forget what kind of year we’ve all had over the last nine months,” he said. “It took those folks away from COVID-19 and let them enjoy Santa Claus and the joys of the season like they should this time of year. I know Santa wanted to make it a very special evening, and he sure did in a very safe way.”
