Closing out 2024 was Santa’s visit to the Omena Firehall on Christmas Eve. It is a tradition that is over 75 years old. For many years, it has been sponsored by Omena’s Club 21. It was another fun year this year, with over 30 people, including about a dozen kids, who came to tell Santa their Christmas wishes. The event included caroling and cookies leading up to Santa’s arrival.
The multi-generation families who have enjoyed Santa’s visit to Omena are a testament to the deep roots that the tradition has. Hazel, Violet and Wallace Kohler were third generation visitors to Santa. Their mother, Emily Stanton Kohler, frequently came back to Omena for the holidays with her parents, Stephen and Mary Hallett Stanton, when she was growing up. They would visit her mother’s family, the Halletts, in Omena. Having grown up in Omena, Mary went to see Santa every year.
Tanner, Mason, and Emma Brown are third generation Omena residents, and at least second generation Santa-goers. Their father, Tony, always went with his parents, Susie and the late Glenn Brown.
