Santa visits library riding fire engine
Published 2:23 pm Thursday, December 7, 2023
Two-year-old Caroline Hughes gazes intently at Santa Lynn Johnson as she describes what she wants for Christmas.
Donovan and Dvante Harris tell Santa, Lynn Johnson, what is on their Christmas wish list. Pictured are (left to right) Lynn Johnson, Dvante Harris and Donovan Harris.
Santa arrives at the Luverne Public Library riding a Luverne Fire Department fire engine. Photo by Jamelyn Hughes.
Sharon Strickland helps her bashful grandson Sawyer Strickland get acquainted with local Santa Lynn Johnson. Pictured are (left to right) Johnson, Sharon and Sawyer Strickland.
The Smith and Gorey cousins join their grandmother in a visit with Santa at the Luverne Public Library. Pictured are Collin Smith, Jaxson Gorey, Lynn Johnson (Santa), Charlee Smith, Regina Gorey and Chloe Smith.
Santa visited the Luverne Public library Monday for his annual talk with area children. But instead of riding in on a sleigh with eight reindeer, the jolly man in a red suit arrived with sirens blazing in Luverne Fire Department Engine 2053.
Library director, Kathryn Tomlin, launched the end-of-year holiday event around 2011 when she first came to the facility and said Santa has always arrived in a fire truck, something the children seem to especially enjoy.
“You should see the children’s faces when he pulls up on the fire engine,” Tomlin said. “They hit the sirens at the corner and the children’s faces just light up. It’s fun to see.”
According to Tomlin, 82 children and 73 adults came to the annual event. Santa’s visit is one of many activities aimed at children.
“Our focus is on children’s programs,” she explained. “That’s been my focus ever since I took over as director was to have more children’s programs.”
Luverne mom Yalethia Harris came out with her sons, Donovan and Dvante Harris, to talk with Santa. The visit was particularly special, she explained, as it was Dvante’s first library visit with Santa.
Big brother Donovan said he comes to the library often for special events and believes Johnson to be the “real” Santa.
“I want Santa to be real,” he said. And, when asked if Johnson was Santa, Donovan exclaimed, “Yes!”
Tomlin said she enjoys facilitating the library’s events for Luverne’s youngest residents.
“We try to be a good asset to the community and use our funds wisely to have programs for the kids,” Tomlin said.
Ashley Gorey, said Santa’s arrival on a fire engine felt especially meaningful to her extended family, several of whom are first responders.
“We’re all from a fire department family,” Gorey said. “My brother and dad volunteer for Luverne and the Smith kids, their dad is a full-time fireman in Troy. That makes this special.”
The Luverne Public Library is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and hosts children’s programs year-round. On Dec. 18, children can attend a free program to make a small gingerbread house. The event begins at 4 p.m.
To check out other upcoming events, follow the library on Facebook.
