Santa arrives by boat, kicks off Lewes holiday season

December 1, 2025 11

It’s the one day a year that Santa Claus trades in his reindeer-powered sleigh for a horsepower-driven boat.

Old St. Nick pulled up to the city dock in Lewes Nov. 29, on a Cape Water Taxi vessel to kick off the Christmas season.

He stepped onto land to greetings of “Welcome to Lewes.”

Like a pied piper, the red-and-white-suited one led anxious children and parents from the canal to his holiday home at Second and Bank streets.

Children made a beeline to be the first to read him their Christmas lists.

Business owners on Second Street are also hoping to get good things this holiday season.

Small Business Saturday, also Nov. 29, was an opportunity to for local merchants to bring people into their shops.

“It’s a great opportunity to see people from our community come out and support us, and we get to see the same faces each year and really enjoy it,” said Caitlin Weaver, owner of the Bungalow on 2nd.

She said people were shopping for a combination of gift and personal items, and bargains at their sidewalk sale.

Elizabeth McCarthy and her crew are seasoned Second Street shoppers, not only on Small Business Saturday.

“The shops are fabulous – a great assortment, great prices,” McCarthy said. “We come every couple of months. We love the children’s shop, love to go into the jeweler and some of the women’s boutiques. There’s already good food too.”

For more information on Santa’s schedule and other holiday events in Lewes, go to leweschamber.com.