Fog Didn't Stop Santa Finding Belmont for 'Turn on the Town' Celebration

It was just as warm in Belmont as it was in Los Angeles (48 degrees) Thursday evening, Dec. 5, causing a thin blanket of fog to arise but that did not prevent Santa from arriving on time (with the help of the Belmont Fire Department) to the 23rd annual "Turn on the Town" celebrations in Belmont Center.

The jolly fat man came to the celebration onto of a BFD Engine with its lights flashing to the delight of many of the smaller residents. After being assisted ever so gingerly down from his perch, Ol' St. Nick lit the tree with the assistance of Belmont Light and then became a passenger on a carriage to Belmont Savings Bank where he met A LOT of children who received a photo with the biggest resident of the North Pole.

"Everyone has been especially good this year," reported Claus between greeting Belmont's youngest residents.

The annual event is sponsored by the Belmont Center Business Association that also runs the yearly Town Day celebration in May. There was singing from the Powers School and Belmont High's Madrigals, a petting zoo with two very off-put lamas and goats galore, free treats and a chance for preteens and tweens to run around the center on a school night.

And it would be the holidays without snow that surprisingly was only coming down along one spot at the Belmont Savings Bank garage. And despite these flakes tasting a bit like soap, many children and parents enjoyed the spectacle.