Santa Claus visited the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum, Sunday, Dec. 15. It was a great time for photo ops with the bearded icon in the fur trimmed red velvet suit. This year, a mini-Santa, the North Shore’s Tristan Michael Higdon of Locust Valley, was there to get his first view of the North Pole’s Santa Claus.
Oyster Bay resident Sam Lingen is a big fan of Santa Claus, but he is an even bigger fan of our country’s presidents. The Vernon School student was at the museum to see Santa and meet Teddy Roosevelt, played by actor James Foote.
“Presidents are my thing,” said Lingen. “I like Santa but I really wanted to see President Roosevelt today.”
Foote brings to life the fact that TR was the famed commuter who used what is now known as the Presidential Railroad Museum of Oyster Bay.
The Holiday Express Weekend, which has been going on for eight years in the Village of Oyster Bay, saw a good turnout on Sunday, but attendance
was diminished on Saturday because of the snowy weather.
“It is a great holiday event and experience that includes a tree lighting on Saturday and carriage rides, games and raffle prizes and an appearance by Santa and Teddy Roosevelt,” said Oyster Bay Railroad Museum President John Specce. “Unfortunately attendance was not as good on Saturday but we had a nice turnout today.”
In addition to the carriage rides and games, attendees were also treated to hot cups of coffee and apple cider and a marathon showing of the Christmas classic, Polar Express on the museum’s TV set.
Specce set up his model railroad with small-lighted buildings that creates a village to be viewed at the eye level of a child.
On Saturday, Dave Morrision signed copies of his newest book brought out by Arcadia Publishing, Images of Rail, Long Island Railroad Port Jefferson Branch.
One of the favorite activities provided by the museum for the Holiday Express weekend was free horse and carriage rides. Horse owner Karolina Zamecka drives groups of people around the village in her wooden wagon decorated for the holidays.
For more information on the OBRM call 516-558-7036.
