Having been unable to get a parking permit for his sleigh, Santa had to be picked up offshore by the Lifeboat, and he was greeted by a sea of happy faces as he made his eagerly-awaited arrival near to the Model Yacht Pond.
Climbing aboard a makeshift sleigh – which looked remarkably like a Land Rover – he was guided by the Boys’ Brigade marching band, as well as his entourage of elves, past the pond and the Slaughterhouse, along South Esplanade and up Fountain Street.
The visitors made plenty of stops along the way, greeting families, handing out sweets, and collecting all-important Christmas lists from children.
Sophie Higgins, 7, and Mac Ogier, 6, were just two of the hundreds of expectant youngsters lining the streets.
‘I’m really excited to see Santa,’ Sophie said. She asked Santa for a new bike for Christmas, while Mac hoped to get a metal detector.
‘I’m going to use it to help me find coins,’ he said.
After arriving in Market Square, and making a surprise appearance on one of the balconies of the Market Buildings, it was just a matter of time before Santa was beckoned onto the stage to delight the huge crowd that had gathered waiting to see him switch on the Christmas lights.
After a few test runs at a countdown, and with substantial encouragement from the elves, the crowd’s noise eventually reached deafening levels, and with assistance from some young helpers, Santa declared Guernsey’s Christmas open as he lit up the Christmas tree in Market Square and strings of lights in the nearby streets.
Watching on were the De Garis family – Oliver, 6, and Evelyn, 3, with parents Tom and Louisa.
‘The kids have been so excited for this all day,’ Mr De Garis said.
‘It’s just such a lovely occasion, it feels like the start of Christmas.’
Oliver said he had asked Santa for an England football kit, while Evelyn hoped for a baby doll.
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