A Canyon Christmas

Hungry Horse News

Nevermind the temperature gauge was pegged at zero.

Nevermind a cool east wind made it feel 10 degrees colder.

Kali Kearney wasn't budging. She was first in line in front of the Dam Town Tavern Saturday.

"At 8 a.m. the kids were asking, can is it time yet? Is it?" said her mother, Angela.

Because you know what? You know what?

Santa Claus was coming to town. Bringing gifts to all the good little boys and girls from the Canyon.

The idea of having Santa come came years ago - more than 25, said organizer Laura Djonne of the Dam Town Tavern.

She said folks just got together and decided to do something for the community children. At first it was just an arrival by Santa, who handed out candy that first year. Then they added a fund-raiser here (a fishing derby in February helps out a lot) and a donation there and started handing out gifts.

"People started donating and it just grew," she said, looking out over the line of children and their parents waiting for Santa. "This crowd is pretty small. We usually have 180 to 200."

Helpers handed out hot chocolate to keep little fingers and toes warm. A couple of straw bales with a blanket are set up at the head of the line in front of a white trailer. The trailer is full of presents.

Santa doesn't just come into town on any old sleigh with reindeer, either. He comes into town in class. In a helicopter.

Minuteman helicopter flew him in for years if the weather was good enough.

This year Minuteman couldn't make the trip, so fittingly, the bright red ALERT helicopter flew Santa in.

He was late because the ALERT crew, almost ready to leave, had to go to an emergency call in Bigfork.

But it was worth the wait.

The big beautiful red helicopter makes a couple of passes over the crowd of children who yell and wave at Santa, who waves back from his window seat.

Santa gets a fire truck ride with Mrs. Claus from the landing pad to the trailer. He takes a seat with a big ho-ho-ho.

The sun has gone down by now. It goes down in Hungry Horse at 1:30 in December, and it feels 10 degrees colder.

Nevermind.

Because Kearney is beaming.

She wants a new pair of ice skates.

And she can't wait to tell him.

Santa, as always, is all ears.

Ho! Ho! Ho!