SPANISH FORT, Ala. — When Santa Claus rode through the Eastern Shore Centre Saturday officially welcoming the holiday season, it’s only fitting the impish elf did so atop Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue’s Ladder 9.

“Meeeeerrrrryyyy Christmas,” he shouted to children clamoring below for candy and throws being tossed from the fourth annual “Spirit of Christmas” parade.

As the procession of more than 30 entrants wound through the Eastern Shore Centre under sunny skies, families gathered from Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Grand Bay, Mobile, Saraland and even Chinchula for the festivities. Although an exact count was not available at press time, organizers said the event drew a record crowd.

Amy Kearns waited patiently among the crowd outside Barnes and Noble for a glimpse of her daughter, Teri Kearns, to march by in the Spanish Fort High School Color Guard.

Nearby, Daphne siblings Bella, Kinleigh and Tyler Cornett — age 4, 7 and 8 respectively — passed around a Santa hat and bounced in the early morning chill as the marching bands warmed up in the distance.

As Grand Marshal Hank Burch, manager of 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, cruised by in his beige convertible, the crowd began cheering and singing along to “Jingle Bell Rock” as Susan’s Academy of Dance glided past.

Meanwhile, Michael Taylor, youth director at First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort, scrambled to dispense 10 gallons of free hot chocolate to parade goers with the help of a few elves.

“The entire youth department was supposed to be here, but it looks like most of them slept in,” Taylor said, grinning and cutting the kids some slack, considering the majority of them had been in Auburn until late Thursday cheering on the state champion football teams of both Spanish Fort and Daphne.

“It’s not like that happens every day,” he said, while his wife, Sky Taylor, passed out coupons redeemable for hugs.

(Staff video by Kelli M. Dugan)

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