Over 250 Kids Visit 'Curbside with Santa' At Golden's Bridge FD

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — Celebrity sightings aren't especially uncommon in our area, but there's just one superstar who draws big crowds every time he comes to town.

Even though this is Santa's busiest week of the year in the North Pole, he still managed to spend two hours at the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department this past weekend.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, more than 250 children showed up for 'Curbside with Santa' at the Golden’s Bridge Firehouse. Santa took photos and chatted with every child, and gave each of them giant gift bags filled with all kinds of treats and fun items.

While children excitedly waited their turn to meet jolly St. Nick, Santa’s helpers – GBFD firefighters, members of the local Scouts Troop 154, and other volunteers – dished out barbecued hot dogs, donuts, candy canes and snacks that the kids and their parents enjoyed in the comfort of their vehicles, which steadily moved through the firehouse parking lot during the event.

"Golden’s Bridge Fire outdid themselves this year," said Alison Biddle in a social media post. "Balloon animals, snacks, Santa, and unbelievable gifts."

The popular decades-long tradition of the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department hosting a holiday party at the firehouse for children who attend Increase Miller Elementary School and who live in the Golden’s Bridge Fire District (all of Golden’s Bridge and swaths of Somers and North Salem) was changed to a curbside event last year due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Since it became an instant hit last year with the community, GBFD officials decided to make this year’s holiday event the second-annual 'Curbside with Santa,' according to firefighter and holiday party event chair Steven Mines.

Mines thanked the community for coming out to the event, and also expressed gratitude to all GBFD firefighters, members of the local Scouts Troop 154 and other volunteers who made this year’s 'Curbside with Santa' a memorable event for the more than 250 children and their families.

“We thank the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department – and Santa – for the generous gifts they gave out," said Spiro Limniatis, a Golden’s Bridge resident who was joined by his wife and four children. "Our children loved them! But their favorite part, of course, was meeting Santa up close and having their picture taken with him. The GBFD shows what it means to be a community fire department."