by Geoff Fox
Folks turned out to support the businesses in Hancock and vendors set up along Main Street last Saturday as part of Miracle on Main Street. They huddled close together later in the evening for the lighting of and the arrival of a certain jolly old man.
Miracle on Main Street, sponsored by Main Street Hancock and Hancock in Motion, stretched from Pennsylvania Avenue to about Church Street.
Things got underway at 3:30 p.m. with vendors selling various crafts, jewelry, various types of snacks and baked goods, and a variety of other things. Some organizations and businesses were also set up along the sidewalks.
Some vendors, along with businesses, were handing out treats and, what would later be a necessity – hot chocolate.
Throughout the event, people could stop into one of the 29 participating businesses or booths and pick up a game sheet where it listed the businesses and where to find gnomes.
Each of the 29 gnomes had a word on it. People would write the word on the sheet and when filled out, could drop the sheet off at a box located by the Christmas tree.
Completed sheets were eligible for prizes.
While many were still browsing the booths, around 6 p.m., everyone started to congregate in the parking lot across from Weaver’s at the Christmas tree.
The crowd was a mix of young and old with parents and grandparents taking pictures of youngsters in front of the Christmas tree.
Throughout the evening and up until the lighting took place, kids could write letters to Santa at a table, just steps from the tree, and place them in a red box for Santa.
As people gathered at the tree, a police siren could be heard. Sgt. Rich Miller of the Hancock Police came down Main Street and turned on to Fulton Street carrying the man of the hour, Santa Claus.
Santa got out of Miller’s vehicle and greeted as many people as he could, taking pictures with people, and saying hello to the kids.
Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way to a bench and with a countdown; the lights on the tree were turned on.
The kids in the crowd were in line and ready to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas and get their pictures taken with the Clauses.
