Coming to Town: Santa Claus Arrives in Revere on Thursday by Helicopter

Santa Claus is coming to town this Thursday, but not by the usual means.

Aided by a local tour company, Santa will drop into Harry Dello Russo Stadium on Thursday by helicopter where Mayor Dan Rizzo will warmly greet him. Both will then lead a parade up Broadway to City Hall where there will be a family festival for children and adults.

Santa will actually be accompanied by RevereTV, which will have a mobile ‘SantaCAM’ in the helicopter that will broadcast the flight live on a big screen in the Stadium.

Recreation Director Michael Hinojosa said there would be plenty to do and they are looking forward to making a tradition out of the parade.

“It was an idea that came out of our department,” he said. “The things we do; we’re always trying to make them more interesting and things that will bring more families out. Having Santa come is exciting, but having him come by helicopter is even more exciting.”

Boston City Tours of North Shore Road will be providing the helicopter for Santa this year, and Mayor Rizzo said the company is very excited to help out.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said the mayor. “Rent-a-Tool and Steve Williams – and before him his uncle Mel Williams – have always been very generous with the city. It doesn’t surprise me that they volunteered to step up and make this event more special than it otherwise would have been. I’m particularly looking forward to the RevereTV SantaCAM.”

Following Santa’s landing and greeting in the Stadium, the jolly old elf will parade up Broadway with Mayor Rizzo to City Hall. There, the two will pull a giant switch that will light up the City’s Christmas decorations.

Santa, the Grinch and Frosty the Snowman will be available for pictures with children the remainder of the night, and Hinojosa said pictures will be available immediately at the event.

“People will be able to get their pictures immediately on the spot,” said Hinojosa. “There will be no waiting.”

For children, there will also be train rides – with the miniature trains going around City Hall.

“It’s literally like what you see at the mall,” said Hinojosa. “It holds 18 kids and they will go up and down the area.”

There will also be pony rides, performances by the 5th Grade Choir, cotton candy, hot chocolate and other treats.

Hinojosa said there would also be an opportunity for parents and children to make custom ornaments.

“This is something very important to me,” he said. “It’s something for them to take home and put on their own trees. I made some ornaments as a kid that ended up on my tree 30 years later. There are some I made as a kid on my tree now. We want them to be able to make something special with their parents that they can remember for a long time.”

Hinojosa said they are planning the event to be big, and with that comes the need for many things to do.

“This is a big event,” he said. “We are expecting 1,000 people and at least 500 to 600 kids. The helicopter arrival alone should generate more people, but if we have more people, we need more stuff for them to do. We don’t want the lines to get long or for there to be nothing to do. I think it’s going to be a really fun time for the residents of Revere to enjoy.”