MARGATE – The Margate Business Association celebrated the start of the winter holiday shopping season Saturday afternoon with a parade, fun activities for children at Bocca Coal Fired Bistro and special gifts and coupons to local businesses.
There was a cast of characters mingling with the crowd, Tamba the Magician wearing a bright yellow jacket, and Miss New Jersey Elizabeth Mendel wearing her crown, but it was Signing Santa that delighted the children most.
Santa said he loves coming to Margate to communicate the holiday spirit with deaf children using American Sign Language.
“We get about a half-dozen children each year,” he said.
Last year, a woman brought her deaf child to the event to meet Santa and while she was there, she applied for a job. Bocca owner Lou Freeman hired her on the spot, he said.
Jacqueline Montoya has been working at the place ever since.
Santa’s Elf Danyl said she has four family members who are deaf, and Santa also has a family member who is deaf, so they both made it a point to learn American Sign Language so they could communicate with the children.
“When we talked to Lou (Freeman) about setting up this event, we asked if our Signing Santa could be part of it, and of course, he said yes,” Elf Danyl said.
Children were treated to pizza and a drink on the house, and eager parents helped them make holiday crafts, weaved sparkling Fairy Hair extensions into their hair, and lifted the little ones high so they could drop their letters to Santa into the slot atop the red mailbox at the front of the restaurant.
The Margate Business Association celebrated Shop Small Weekend with a parade, fun things to do at Bocca Coal Fired Bistro and special sales and prizes at businesses throughout the city.Lucy the Elephant, the inflatable version, made an appearance, along with ACUA mascot Supercan, a unicorn and Frosty the Snowman.
Even Darth Vader sat on Santa’s lap, hoping to get his holiday wishes to come true. For extra measure, Darth Vader dropped his letter into the mailbox to be sure Santa checks off his name on his Nice List.
Parents were engaged in a scavenger hunt to locate little gift boxes hidden outside of the stores. Inside were coupons for deep discounts on merchandise. Dancers from Leslie’s Dance Studio delighted the crowd with their Rockette-style kick line. As always, Sustainable Margate was on hand to share an interactive display about the marine environment.
According to the MBA, Small Business Saturday® was created by American Express on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day, and officials in all 50 states participate.
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