By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE - Hundreds of people gathered in front of Bocca Coal Fired Bistro Saturday, Nov. 26 to kick off the holiday shopping season. It was the largest gathering ever since the Margate Business Association started Shop Small Weekend several years ago.
The MBA organizes the event each year to welcome shoppers to the city's business districts with sidewalk sales, discounts and contests. Activities included arts and crafts and lots of pizza eating for the kiddos, compliments of Bocca.
A parade left the Margate Fire Station on Washington Avenue and traveled along Ventnor Avenue ending at Bocca, where dancers from Leslie's Dance Studio performed in front of the restaurant.
Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a few friends, including a unicorn, Minion and Buzz Lightyear, arrived all the way from the North Pole on a Margate Beach Patrol surf boat to the delight of children lining the route.
Children brought their letters to send to Santa and eagerly deposited them in the big red mailbox inside Bocca. While families enjoyed pizza, Santa took his seat at the front of the room and heard each child's holiday wishes, while Miss New Jersey Augostina Mallous posed for pictures.
Young Ethan Gerber came all the way from Northfield to join the party.
"I liked all the people giving out candy and Santa with all his toys," Ethan said. "My sister Charlotte was up there dancing."
Little siblings Sofia and Luca enjoyed some outdoor dining in the warm sun outside Bocca. Their babysitter Rhona Lipshutz of Margate and her daughter Julie accompanied the children to the event, while their mother was at work.
"We couldn't miss Santa and Miss New Jersey, right kids?" Lipshutz said.
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