Set to celebrate with caution in Port

Added security measures will be in place Saturday as Port Washington holds its annual Christmas celebration with the Polar Express children’s event in the morning, the annual Christmas on the Corner celebration in the afternoon and the tree lighting, parade and fireworks show in the evening.

But after the recent tragedy in Waukesha, when a man drove his sport utility vehicle down the Christmas parade route and killed six people and injured scores more, officials from the city and Port Main Street Inc., which organizes many of the events, debated how to proceed in Port.

The groups decided that there would be enhanced security at Saturday’s events, particularly the parade, City Administrator Tony Brown said. Fire and police trucks will block Franklin Street and Grand Avenue at the beginning and end of the parade route, squad cars will be at the beginning and end of the procession and additional police will be assigned to downtown throughout the afternoon and evening.

The city will also eliminate parking along Franklin Street beginning at 3 p.m., when Christmas on the Corner starts, rather than 4 p.m.

The city won’t go as far as Grafton, which last Saturday blocked every intersection along its Christmas parade route with heavy equipment, Brown said, adding the measures taken in Port will be subtle.

“If someone is trying to notice it, they probably will,” Brown said. “It’s our responsibility to be proactive and make sure we’re creating a safe environment where people can feel safe. 

“That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

The city will consider whether to require enhanced security for other events, be they large festivals like Fish Day or small parades such as the Fourth of July parade, in the next couple months, Brown added.

“That’s part of a large decision the city needs to look at,” he said. 

The Waukesha tragedy will also be reflected in other ways during Saturday’s events, Port Main Street Executive Director Kristina Tadeo said.

The parade will include a tribute to the event and those injured and killed, she said, and a large card for the Waukesha community will be placed downtown during Christmas on the Corner for people to sign. The card will be delivered next week, Tadeo said.

Christmas on the Corner will be held throughout downtown from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday with activities for the whole family. The Christmas tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. followed by the parade and fireworks.

There will be live reindeer on East Main Street just west of Franklin Street, and Santa will visit with youngsters from 3 to 5:45 p.m. at Port Washington State Bank. 

A toy drive will be conducted by Family Promise at the Heart of the Harbor plaza.

If they’re too shy to talk to Santa — or they’re worried he will forget their wish list by Christmas — youngsters can write letters to Santa at the Board Shack and Vines to Cellar and either leave them at the businesses or drop them off at the Port Post Office, which will have a magical mailbox in the lobby. 

There will be cookie decorating at Daily Baking and ornament decorating at Engine Room 102. Participants can make jingle bell bracelets at Lakeside Music and Naturals.

Navigate Wellness will have a winter backdrop for families to take photos and a picture frame craft for children.

Java Dock will provide a warm-up zone with the Port Buccaneers football program offering hot drinks in an outdoor tent with heaters. Reindeer-themed games will be available, and the team will be holding a 50-50 raffle to raise money for a scoreboard.

Storytimes will be held at the Frankie’s lot at 3:15, 4:15 and 5:15 p.m. Local celebrities will do the readings. 

In addition, Main Street will hold its popular Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt for youngsters. Children can pick up their entry forms and a list of the participating stores at the Main Street table near Sherper’s, then return them to the table when they’ve finished finding the elusive elf. The winner will receive a $25 Main Street gift certificate.

Tickets will also be sold at the Main Street table for gift raffles being held throughout downtown, Tadeo said. People can drop the tickets off at the stores with the featured gift they would like.

As Christmas on the Corner ends at 6 p.m., carolers from Port Washington High School will make their way north on Franklin Street to the city’s Christmas tree at the foot of St. Mary’s hill.

After the tree is lit, the Christmas parade will kick off at the corner of Jackson and Franklin streets. It will make its way south on Franklin and turn west onto Grand Avenue, finishing up at Milwaukee Street.

About 10 minutes after the parade ends, fireworks will be shot off from Coal Dock Park.

In addition to Christmas on the Corner, the Eghart House at 302 W. Grand Ave. will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. to provide a Victorian Christmas celebration and a Christkindlmarkt will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.

The day begins with the Polar Express at the Port fire station. Tickets are required and may be purchased through the Parks and Recreation office.