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SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Sadie and Logan Hunter staked out their spots on the hearth at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center almost half an hour before the festivities officially began Dec. 17.

With a big cozy chair and microphone just a few feet from their perch, the youngest Hunters, ages 6 and 3, knew when Santa Claus walked through the doors they would have the best seat in the house.

The Hunters were among more than 150 children—most of whom wore pajamas and carried sleepy-time blankets—gathered for Spanish Fort’s third annual reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

As parents and grandparents preened for the best camera angles in the room, children of all ages bounced expectantly while waiting for the Jolly Old Elf to make his appearance.

Zachary Lippold, 7, helped little sister Carolyn Grace Lippold, 4, spread out her sleeping bag, while Bryson Revere, also 4, grinned as big brother Crews Revere, 6, stopped just long enough to snap a photo.

With cookies and hot cocoa waiting in the lobby, the merriment began with a sing-along of “Jingle Bells” led by City Attorney David Conner on guitar and Baldwin County Public Schools Communications Director Terry Wilhite on keyboard.

And while the children tried to sit still as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and another story were read aloud, the volume in the room rose steadily as little eyes watched the door for that signature red suit and white beard.

When Santa did make his entrance around 7:30 p.m. his deep, belly-jiggling chuckles elicited squeals of delight from the crowd and even sparked an honest hand or two to shoot up when he asked if anyone had been naughty this year.

The room fell silent, however, as St. Nick began reading the timeless classic recounting his busiest night of the year, and a line of more than 50 children eager for a last-minute bending of his ear formed when the reading concluded.

With little brother Jeremy at his side in matching Transformers pajamas, Jacob Collins, 5, offered the following insight:

“This is so cool!”