Old Saint Nick made his way to Riverside on December 10, and there was a slew of parents who brought their children to meet with him at the local fire station.

Santa arrived at the Riverside Fire Station not in a sled powered by reindeer but, more appropriately, in a fire truck. Coming to Riverside to ask eager kids what they want for Christmas is something Santa has been doing for a long time.

“The [Riverside Area Community Club] started doing Santa in 1984, before that it was the chamber of commerce,” Riverside city clerk Becky Laroche said. “The RAC club evolved from the chamber of commerce.”

Inside the fire station the holiday atmosphere was unmistakable as the Christmas décor of trees, lights, treats, and Santa-style stocking caps caught the eye no matter where someone looked. Cookies and milk were provided to all who wished to partake. After getting to meet Santa, kids were gifted a bag of goodies.

“Lately our funds come from Betty Kaalberg’s estate. She was on the city council for several years, and her estate does a donation to the RAC club every year to help pay for the candy and the sacks. Whatever we have left here we take down to the senior village, and if there is still some [left], then they go back to the preschool until we get rid of them all,” Laroche said.

Candies, cookies, and getting to tell Santa exactly what they want for Christmas was more than enough to satisfy the little ones who attended this event.