Santa Claus Comes to Lunenburg

Lunenburg kicked off the festive season in style this past weekend.  On Friday evening the waterfront was lit up, including the t’gallant masts and bowsprit on Picton Castle.  The colourful lights on the vessels, including the fleet at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, the fishing vessels at Adams & Knickle, the schooner Bluenose II, and our own barque Picton Castle will remain on throughout the holiday season.

On Saturday, the highlight was the annual Santa Claus parade through town.  Naturally in Lunenburg, Santa arrives on a dory pulled by reindeer, rather than a sleigh.  Ahead of Saint Nick in the parade were 19 other entries, including one from Picton Castle/Dory Shop which our Bosun School students put together.  We’re sending a big thank you to Wayne Cleveland, whose truck and trailer made an excellent platform for our float.  On top of Wayne’s sturdy trailer we put Rocky, the Dory Shop’s trusty dory, decorated with evergreen garland and tinsel, with the Dory Shop’s Christmas sail set and the Nova Scotia flag flying behind.  The students were dressed in Santa or elf hats, with one dressed as a gingerbread cookie, and they handed out candy canes to all the kids watching the parade.  9-year old ship’s boy Dawson rode in the dory in a very festive elf outfit and waved excitedly to the crowd.

With light displays turned on throughout town and our annual visit from Santa Claus, we’re starting to feel the the yuletide season upon us!